r 




XfYAHDQf^ 




s^=^ 




WHITE WYANDOTTES TO DATE. 



Cockerel and Pullet in First Prize Pen at the Boston Poultry, Pigeon and Pet Stock Exhibition, Januarv 
as bred, owned and exhibited by Arthur G. Duston, Marlboro, Mass. 



ORIGINAL AMERICAN PRODUCTIONS. 



Standard-Bred Wyandottes, 



Silver Laced, Golden Laced, White, Buff, Black and Partridge. 



THEIR PRACTICAL QUALITIES; THE STANDARD 
REQUIREMENTS: HOW TO JUDGE THEM; HOW 
TO BREED AND MATE FOR BEST RESULTS . 



CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE BEST KNOWN AND /nOST EXPERT BREEDERS AND 

JUDGES IN AMERICA. 



IFULLY ILI-.TJSTE/.A.TE]r). 



PRICE FIFTY CENTS. 



THE RELIABLE POULTRY JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, 

QUJNCY» ILLINOIS, 



/ 



,VH"t\-i% 



THE. LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 


Two Copies 


R«e»l»«l 


APR 2 


1903 


Copxiignt 

ciiss'aJ 


tnt7 
XXo, No. 


COPY 


B. 



DIRECTORY OF 

RELIABLE WYANDOTTE BREEDERS. 



/N THE back pages of this book ViriU be found a 
directory of the best known American breeders 
of one or more varieties of the Wyandottes. The 
breeders whose names and business announcements 
are printed therein are up-to-date and reliable. They 
are the kind of men readers of this book will find it 
safe and profitable to patronize when they w^ish to 
buy stock or eggs. Every breeder whose name 
appears in the list is believed by us to be square- 
dealing. 

Fraternally, 

RELIABLE POULTRY JOURNAL 
PUBLISHING CO. 



COPYRIGHTED BY 

RELIABLE POULTRY JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO. 

SEPTEMBER 15, 1903. 






SILVER LACED WYANDOTTES. 



Some General Advice to Beginners—Inbreeding — Standard Requirements Discussed Section by Section- 
Shape and Correct Marking of Feathers Illustrated by Original Charts — Method 
of Judging or Scoring — How to Cut for Defects. 



BY THEO. HEWES. 




rN taking up the Wyandottes to give them a thorough 
and complete write up, I realize the importance of 
the undprtdking, and its value to the amateur as an 
educator and to the professional breeder as a work 
of reference. My aim is to describe the different vari- 
etiesof thispopularfowl, justaslunderstandthemand as I be- 
lieve the present standard intends all breeders to understand 
them; also by illustrations and explanations, to make the 
matter of scoring more clearly understood by all, and to 
make the selecting of show birds and breeders less a matter 
of guess work. The standard of 1898 has but tew changes 
from the standard of 1893. To the few changes that have 
been made I will call special attention when the sections 
that are affected by the changes are under consideration. 

The illustrations in this book, so far as feathers are con- 
cerned, are, with a few exceptions, made from photographs 
from the varieties under discussion, and are just such feath- 
ers as are found by the judges at all big shows, and I believe 
are the best ever shown in book form. There is a sameness, 
to a certain extent, about some of them, but by paying close 
attention to the defects you will find they all enter largely 
into a proper understanding of the breed. 

Like will produce like, is an old saying, but it does not 
hold good in poultry breeding every time, nor any great 
number of times. If we were to mate a male to a female 
that was in every way his euual in breeding we might with 
pood reason look tor like to produce like; but where we 
mate males and females together with no regard tor the 
breeding back of thtm we will in nine cases out of ten meet 
with disappointment. It is seldom if ever that we meet 
wi'h two birds that are just alike in all sections. Thoy may 
look much alike from outside appearances, but on close 
inspection you will find one inferior to the other. And so 
long as outside crosses are continually resorted to we shall 
always find this varying difference. 

Why do wild birds look so near alike that it is next to 
impossible to tell one from another? Look to nature for an 
answer. It is a case of a survival of the fittest and the very 
closest kind of inbreeding. We also can, by judicious 
inbreeding, using nothing in our yards but the very cream 
of our flockfe in shape, health, and color, come to that point 
in a few years where a majority of our birds will look as 
much alike as wild birds do, both in shape and color. 

The loose, caieless breeding that is followed by so many 
cannot possibly lead to permanent good. It is true we will 
ge: some good specimens from almost any kind of mating, 
but the few good ones are just as liable to breed poor birds 
as good, for there is too much poor blood in their make-up 
to hold out when bred with mates that have only a shallow 
foundation with which to start. 

To be successful in poultry breeding we must at all 
times have a definite object or ideal in view and must follow 
it up with careful matings and a close attention to details 
until we establish something we can look to as a secure 



foundation. It is not necessary to raise a great quantity of 
anything to be called a success in any line of fancy stock 
breeding, but we must produce quality, and quality once 
produced must have a foundation upon which we may build 
again and again. 

How often we meet an amateur in the show room with 
a string of birds he has purchased, or has raised from eggs 
purchased from some old and careful breeder, and hear him 
tell all the secrets of breeding and the way, the only way, to 
make it a success! Watch the same breeder the next year, 
or after he has mated his own flock, and note the results. 
You will not only find the ribbons on the other coops, but 
you will see him doing a lot of quiet thinking and not nearly 
so much talking as the year before. This is how successful 
breeders are made. 

Judicious Inbreeding. 

The question of inbreeding is an important one. It can 
only be understood by a careful study of nature and of 
nature's laws. That we can go tew far with it, is absolutely 
certain, but how many have done so? Few, very few, indeed. 
Many claim they have when they have not gone half far 
enough. The facts are that bad results from other causes 
are many times charged to inbreeding, and for this very 
reason I say, study nature. Often breeders will use some 
especially finely marked bird, but undeveloped in size and 
vigor, and because he breeds a lot of weak chicks, inbreed- 
ing is blamed as the cause. If left in a wild state no mate 
would have chosen this undersized weakling until he could 
hold his own with the best that came along. In other words, 
the poor little hen with less than twelve months of life has 
learned more of nature's laws than men of mature age. 

To make clear the value of inbreeding so that amateurs 
may see how far they may go with no bad results, I will 
point to a case with which I am well acquainted, where a 
breeder of Barred Plymouth Rocks introduced new blood in 
his flock only once in twelve years, and came near ruining 
his flock by doing so! He was winning every year while 
inbreeding and his birds were making a record tor him in 
the yards of the best breeders in the country at the heads 
of their flocks. Do not understand that he was mating 
brothers and sisters together every time, although this was 
done many times, but he was breeding birds directly related 
all the time, and I give you my word that ten and eleven- 
pound cockerels were no uncommon sight in his yards. 

My honest opinion is that with plenty of room to handle 
a flock right, a strain of birds can be bred in line for fifty 
years without bad results. 

The Future of Poultry Culture. 
Breeding poultry tor fun is one thing; breeding it as a 
source of profit sufficient to furnish a living for a family is 
quite another matter. If we are in the business for pleasure 
alone we can afford to spend money liberally, and to give to 
our fowls every luxury they may want, and no account need 




'/»G'.£ Toultnu Tou/frfnl 



STANDARD WYANDOTTE MALE CHART. 

Chart No. I— Copyrfjrhted Chart, Designed Expressly for this Book by Franklane L. Sewell, Showing Standard Wyandotte 

Male Shape (all Varieties); also Standard Striping and Lacing for the Different Sections ( Hackle, Breast, 

Wing, Fluff, etc ; of Silver and Golden Wyandotte Males. 



tup: wyandottes. 



be kept of the expense. We may have fine houses and 
expensive runs, and keep our poultry plant so it is really an 
ornament to the place, but when you look to poultry for 
profit the case is different. You want good, comfortable 
Ileuses — they are essential, and the more room you give 
fowls in their runs means just so much money saved in food 
and general care. But fine houses, with gable roofs, and 
Queen Anne windows are entirely out of place and of no 
more value to you than French plate mirrors would be. The 
hen does not know how to appreciate them, and it is better 
she should not. What she wants are warm, comfortable 
quarters, and the cheapest way to furnish them is a point 
you should study if you would save money. 

I can remember, and it was not so very long ago, either, 
whi'n the number of people in this country who made their 
entire living from the breeding of fancy poultry was very 
small. But to-day if all the people who depend on the fancy 
side of poultry culture tor a living were mustered together 
they would make a fair-sized army. I know of some poultry 
plants where five men are employed the year around, ard 
of quite a number where from one to three men find steady 
employment, and this does not include market poultry 
plants, where several in the west, east and south have as 
high as twenty men on the pay roll. With the steady in- 
crease in the business, there is plenty of room in this line 
of work tor any intelligent, pains-taking man or woman 
who will engage in it and plan and strive for profits as th3y 
would in any other line of business. Do not expect that an 
investment of a few dollars will make you rich in a year. 
Do not begin at tlie top and go down, but invest cautiously 
at first, learn the business, then make your larger invest- 
ments and you will reap your reward. 

As for myself, I do not claim perfection, neither do I 
think I have learned it all. I am watching at every turn 
for new and better methods of breeding, and I take advar.- 
tapo of every opportunity that is offered. When I find 
breeders who have made a succes.=; of handling one or more 
varieties of poultry, and who show by their stock that they 
are working along lines of genuine improvement, I make it 
a point to get every bit ot information from them I can, 
and in that way am enabled not only to help myself but 
those with whom I come in contact. This is not my country, 
nor yoi.r country, but our country, and it is our duty to help 
one another, and to strive to make it what it should be. the 
grandest, the most progressive country on earth. 

I will new take up the varieties ot Wyandottes and 
handle them in sections as we do in the show room, begin- 
ning with the Silver Wyandotte male. As the shape of 
all varieties is alike, the shape as illustrated and described 
for this variety (se? chart No. I) will answer for all. Th3 
charts here used to show ideal outlines for the Silver Wyan- 
dottes will do for all varieties of Wyandottes. The outline 
for the female is taken from a living specimen of the White 
variety, a bird owned by Mr. Arthur G. Duston, one that 
was in his first prize pen ot White Wyandottes at the late 
Boston show. 

Symmetry, or Typical Carriage. 
In scoring a Wyandotte this section is valued at eight 
points, and if found perfect it would mean an ideal bird in 
every sense of the word, so far as typical shape is concerned. 
Every section must not alone be perfect ot itself, but must 
bo so joined to every other section that the entire outline is 
perfectly symmetrical and typical ot the breed. In chart No. 1 
is shown such a specimen, or at least as near one as any 
artist can delineate perfection. I am sure it is one that 
comes as near the proper shape of the breed, as described 
by the standard, as any ever made. I offer this as my ideal 
of shape in a Wyandotte male, and while it may not suit the 



eyes of all critics, I should be willing to pass such a speci- 
men without a cut in symmetry, if any breeder were lucky 
enough to produce one. 

The fault usually found in this section ol the male is a 
pour joining together ot the different sections, the specimen 
having a "Uirown-together" look, as we call it. The sec- 
tions of the body that go to make up symmetry are usually 
good of themselves, not perfect, but good for a living speci- 
men—but they are so joined together that the symmetrical 
outline or breed type is broken, and the bird receives a 
severer cut than the sections alone would indicate. 

There is an old song that has been sung by Mr. Felch 
and others for years, to the effect that symmetry is a two- 
edged sword which cuts a specimen twice. This is sprung 
on the judges at nearly every show and the claim is made 
that if such and such a bird had not been cut on symmetry 
he would have won first. The exhibitor might just as well 
make the claim that it he had not been cut at all he would 
have scored one hundred points. There is just as much 
sense in one claim as in the other. The tacts are simply 
these: The American Poultry Association set aside eight 
of the one hundred points for symmetry, and the man who 
consistently cuts this section is cutting on the basis of eight 
points for .symmetry and is making out a score card that 
means something to the amateur and professional breeder 
alike. I claim that a judge who ignores this section in scor- 
ing is not posted on what the standard aims to teach. He is 
only allowing ninety-two points for perfection instead of 
one hundred and his tooting up should be on that basis. If 
this were practiced during just one show you would see 
where these judges stand, and there would be such a tall 
that others would be glad to let the American Poultry 
Association rule instead ot setting themselves up as the 
Great I Am. 

A. judge has no more right to ignore symmetry than he 
has to ignore comb, wings, or any other section. The 
breeder who wants an intelligent idea of a proper score card 
thould figure the symmetry cuts solely on a basis of eight 
points. When your bird loses one point in this section he 
is one-eighth bad. If he loses two points he is one-fourth 
bad, while if he loses one-half point he is only one-sixteenth 
bad. This pame rule should be carefully studied in all sec- 
tions, and thus you will soon find what per cent of perfection 
you have attained in any and all sections. However, in 
many of the sections you must figure on both shape and 
color and note what per cent is allowed for both. 

In scoring symmetry if the specimen is too narrow and 
fails to round out in breast, back, and body, with a neck 
and tail too long, as is usually the case with these narrow 
birds, the cut should be from two to three and one-half 
points, according to the degree. Where the specimen is good 
in breast, tail and neck, but shows a back and body a 
trifle too long, the cut is one-half. If the specimen is good 
in all other sections except breast, and this section shows 
t(jo flat, and fails to round out, the cut is from one-half to 
one. Where the neck and tail are too long arid the tail is 
carried too high, with the neck straight and the hackle 
short, tailing at junction with back, the cut is from one- 
half to one and one-half. Where, the legs are too long, or 
stand too close together, giving the bird a stilty appearance, 
the cut is one-half to one. There are several minor defects 
that detract from the symmetrical outlines of a specimen, 
which are discounted by good judges, but I think those here 
described will be sufficient to give the amateur an intelli- 
gent idea oi measuring defects in this section. 
Standard Weig-hts. 

The standard weights for all varieties of Wyandottes 
are the same and are as follows: For cocks, eight and one- 



8 



THE WYANDOTTES. 




half pounds; for cockerels, seven and one-half pounds: for 
hens, six and one-half pounds; for pullets, five and one-half 
pounds. The standard gives no credit for overweight, but 
it is always best to have your birds a trifle overweight at 

exhibition time, as they in- 
variably lose a few ounces 
when cooped for ex:hibition, 
and any loss under the stand- 
ard weights will be dis- 
counted, and these are points 
thrown away. In scoring this 
Fig. 1. section, the discount is two 

points for every pound, or in 
that ratio. For example, a bird that is one pound short of 
standard weight would be cut two points; if one-half pound 
short it would be cut one point, if one-quarter pound short 
it would be cut one-half point and if two pounds short, tour 
points, and so on. 

Condition. 
Condition is valued at six points, and all that goes to 
make up a perfectly healthy specimen is considered when 
scoring this section. If the bird is roupy, or shows signs of 
swelled head, or has watery eyes, the cut is from one-half 
to one. If feathers are broken or dirty, the cut is from one- 
quarter to one. If the legs are scaly, one-half to one. If 
the comb or wattles are torn from fighting, 
one-half to one. Frosted combs are usually 
cut in this section and a check mark made 
on the score card to show in what section 
condition was cut. This check mark should 
always be made on the card for the benefit 
of breeders who might chance to be away 
from the show. For example, the bird might 
be cut one point on condition and the fol- 
lowing sections be at fault; Legs slightly scaly, 
and wattles torn, etc. In such cases both the 
legs and wattles should have a check mark 
the same as condition, so that breeders may know just what 
sections the judge considered defective. 

It will not be necessary to call up this section again in 
the female of the Silvers, nor in connection with any of the 
othervarieties, as the foregoing will answer the purpose forall. 

THE WYANDOTTE MALE. 
The Comb. 
The comb is without doubt one of the most important 
of the fancy sections of a Wyandotte. Commercially it has 
no value, and to a commercial buyer it will not make one 
cent's worth of difference whether the specimen has an ideal 
comb or a lump of meat on his head. But with fanciers it 
is vastly different; they will hardly accept as a gift a speci- 
men with a comb like Fig. 3, while a bird otherwise good 
and showing a comb like chart No. 1 would be doubled in 
value. 

This section is valued at eight points, and to be perfect 
must he, "Rose, low, firm on 
the head, top oval in shape 
and its surface covered with 
small points or corrugations, 
the former preferred, termi- 
nating in a small spike at the 
rear; the entire comb and 
spike curving slightly to conform to the shape of the skull." 
In chart No. 1 is shown an ideal comb, one that fits the 
standard description to the letter. Such combs are scarce, 
but we do meet with them once in a while, combs that are 
almost as good as the one shown in drawing. By careful 
breeding we can in time reach a point where poor combs 



will be equal to the good ones now. In Fig. 1 is shown a 
comb that is good in shape and outline. At one time this 
comb was much admired, but it lacks the corrugated points 
that make a comb so handsome. This style is now nearly 
extinct, except on an occasional female. Such a comb as 
Fig. 1 should be discounted 
one point. 

Fig. 2 shows a comb that 
has several objections. First, 
it is too narrow and is too 
high in the center. It also runs 
on a straight line until it 
reaches the back of the head 
and then falls off suddenly. 
The corrugated points are un- 
even — in fact this comb is a 
trifle wrong in every way. 
Still it is not a bad comb to 
look at, and is one we often 




FIG. 3. 



^iilife. 




FIG. 4 




Fig. 2. 



meet in the show room. Such a comb should be discounted 
one and one-half points. 

In Fig. 3 we have a comb that is but a poor excuse at 
best and it will produce only poor combs so long as you 
breed from it. It is hollow in the center and falls all over the 
head. It forms a lump behind, then winds up with a make- 
shift of a spike that barely saves the bird 
from disqualification. To score this comb 
properly it should be cut one point for being 
loose on the head, one-half point for being 
too wide, one-half point for poor corruga- 
tions, one and one-half points for the hollow 
through the center and one-half point for 
shape of spike. 

In Fig. 4 is shown a comb that is very 
good except the natural absence of spike, 
which, under the new standard, is a disquali- 
fication. This comb I had drawn to show 
the breeders what to guard against, as this is a new rule in 
the standard and breeders must be careful in making up 
their show pens, as this comb will throw the specimen out 
all together. 

In Fig. .5 is shown a neat comb, resembling in many 
respects the comb on chart No. 1, but this comb is too nar- 
row, and is shown here as a guide to breeders, as birds with 
combs of this character will almost invariably throw a per 
cent of single combs in their offspring. If you have a bird 
of otherwise extra merit, but with a comb of this kind, be 
very careful to what style of bird you mate it, as careless 
mating here may give you no end of trouble. 
The Eyes. 
The standard scale of points does not make a separate 
column for eyes; they are in- 
cluded in the head section. 
But in scoring the specimen it 
has been found to be to the 
interest of breeders to make 
a separate line on the card so 
that they may know for what 
this section is cut. 

The standard says in the 
description of eyes, "A bright ^"^- ^• 

bay in color." This color of eyes is an important matter, and 
it is to the best interest of the breed that we watch them very 
closely, for weak or pale eyes are a sure indication of a weak 
constitution, and the stronger and clearer in color you can 
gei them the better for the breed and your individual strain. 
In scoring the head section the eyes are an important 
part, but I will score them here separately from the head 




THE WYANDOTTES. 



9 



proper, and will not refer to them while on head. If slightly 
off in color but still showing a good trace of bay the cut is 
one-half. If pearl in color, or, as I dub it, "dead fish" in 
color, the cut is one and one-half. If one eye is good and 
the other one pearl, the cut is one. If one eye is blind, cut 
one. If the eye has run out, leaving a hollow, sunken scar, 
the cut is one and one-half, one for loss of eye and one- 
half for off shape of head. 

The Head. 
This section is valued at six points; it is seldom found 
defective. But in order to put the amateur right I will 
describe a few of the defects that are sometimes found. The 




FiC, . 7,— SHORT HACKLE FEATHER. 

head should be short with a broad crown; the face should 
be bright red in color, and the plumage a silvery white, 
with narrow centers of black. If head is too long or too 
narrow the cut is one-half to one. If the plumage shows 
any other color than silvery white the cut is one-half to 
one. If the beak i-j too long or fails in a nice curve the cut 
is one-half. If the beak is solid, or is black or yellow, the 
cut is one-half. 

Wattles and Ear Lobes. 

Here is a section that has given the breeders consider- 
able trouble, especially the ear lobes. Ten years ago it was 
next to impossible to gel a really good red lobe in both 
males and females, and for a long time there was little or no 
improvement in this section. The standard at that time 
disqualified a specimen for ear lobes that were more 
than one-third white. Many valuable breeding birds were 
thrown out and fanciers became almost discouraged. Poul- 
try judges could not agree on the proper amount of white 
to allow and sometimes a bird would pass under one 
judge with a cut of one-half or one, only to be dis- 
qualified by another judge. This of course made lots 
of discord and hard feelings, but at the revision meet- 
ing held at Chicago in 1S93, Mr. J. H. Drevenstedt, 
Mr. Ira Keller and the writer suggested to the associa- 
tion that they let this breed go through for five years and 
only disqualify for a solid white lobe. Many objected to 
this move, claiming we were going backward instead of for- 
ward, but we carried our point, and to-day they can all see 
the wisdom of it, for it gave the breeders a little leeway in 
thi.= section to help out other more important sections, and 
we to-day have not only gotten rid of the white lobes, but 
have made greater improvements in every way than was 
then thought possible. 

This section is valued at six points. In shape, Wyan- 
dotte ear lobes usually pass as perfect. The defects in shape 
that do show un at times are uneven length of wattles in 
males, and wattles torn by fighting. Where wattles are 
wrinkled or uneven in length, the cut is one-half to one. 
This is not a natural defect and has no effect on the breeding 
qualities of the specimen. In color the lobes should be red. 
Where they show a trace of white the cut is one-half. If 
half or more of the lobes are white the cut is from one and 
one-half to two and one-half, according to the degree. 
The Neck. 

This section is valued at ten points, which are divided 
four for shape and si.\ for color. The shape of the neck is 



usually good, except at times the specimen is discounted on 
account of the feathers not being fully developed, thus mak- 
ing a break at junction with back and spoiling the nice con- 
cave sweep so much admired by fanciers. There is one 
phrase that may as well be explained here, as amateurs will 
find it in almost every section in this breed when they refer 
to their standards. The words are "medium in length." 

Medium as applied to this breed, would be an average 
between two extremes, for instance, the neck would be a 
medium between a Game and a Cochin. A Wyandotte is 
naturally on the blocky order, not so much as a Cochin 
liantam, but enough to be termed in poultry parlance, a 
medium. In the color of the neck section we have one of 
the very hardest things to get right. In fact, in any section 
where black and white are the predominating colors, and 
the feathers grow long, we will always experience more or 
less trouble in keeping them free from sunburn or copper 
color. The under-color of the hackle should be a dark slate, 
that is the downy part of the feather next to the skin. The 
knitted portion of the feather should be a silvery white with 
a dear black stripe through the center of the feather 
coming to a point near the extremity, the white to be clear 
and dictinot and running entirely around the edge of the 
feaiher, making a black feather neatly and completely laced 
with white. We refer you to the chart No. 1, where you will 
see just such feathers as I have described, and you will see 
them on this picture in just such positions as you should 
find them on the living specimen. 

Fig. 7 shows a good feather with the exception 
of the white shaft, and it should be discounted 
one-half point. Fig. 8 shows a feather that is quite 
often met in this variety and one of which it is 
hard to get rid. It shows the white shaft in the same pro- 
portion as Fig. 7, but fails in the nice white edging so much 
admired, and it makes the neck look smutty with a black 
ring around it. Such a feather should be discounted two 
points, as it is useless in the breeding pen and is a disgrace 
in the show room. In scoring this section we usually find 
more or less trou'ble with the under-color, especially if the 
surface color is good. Many claim that the white shaft in 
the feather would be a benefit to the breed. I am slow to 
believe this, as I have found some specimens that were 
perfect on the surface still holding the strong under-color to 
the skin. And if one man can breed them that way there is 
no excuse for the rest of us not doing as well. Where the 
feathers are good at the end and show a nice white edging. 




Fig. 8— SHORT hackle pe.ather. 
but lack in under-color, say one-half the length of the 
feathers, the cut would be three-fourths; if only a trace of 
white at the base of hackle, the cut would be one-fourth. 
Where feathers are good, except at the tip and then the 
black pushes through the white at tip of feather, the cut is ■ 
one-half. 

In Fig. 9 is shown a feather that conforms so nearly to 
the standard that a judge could pass it as being perfect. 
There is a trace of white in the shaft, but taken all in all it 
is as good as any we have found. The under-color did not 
show well in the photograph owing to the light. In the 
original the under-color was good. 



10 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



Fig. 10 shows the same white shaft, only it is more distinct. There is 
another defect in this feather that is even more objectionable. The black runs 
to the end of the feather instead of coming to a point near th-? tip. This 
feather should be discounted from one-half to three-quarters; of a point. 

If the neck is too long or too straight, failing in the fine arch that is char- 
actertistic of this breed, the cut is from one-half to one, according to the 
degree. If the hackle Is short, making a break at junction with the back, the 
cut is from one-half to one. 

The Back. 

This section, in all the American classes, has a valuation of ten points 
in the standard of 1898. The two points that are added to the back are taken 
from the body and fluff, and the last named section will in the future have a 
valuation of six points instead of eight. The back is the keystone of the 
structure, and without a good one on your male bird you are far from perfec- 
tion, no matter how good the rest of the sections may be. It is of great 
importance in both male and female, but more so in the male. This section is 
subdivided on shape and color, five points being given to each. In shape it 
should be SHORT, BROAD AND FLAT AT THE SHOULDERS, saddle 
BROAD AND FULL. I put this in capitals so it will make a little more 
impression on the reader, for I consider this section the most important one in 
any breed. 

Look at chan No. 1 and see this section, then read the standard again, 
and you will soon get the right idea and be able to make the proper selection 





llG. 9. 

H.4CKLE 



Fig 

FEATHERS— SILVER WV.\NDOm: rj.\LE. 



10. 



Fig II.— BACK oit Saddle fe.\ther — wawndoite male. 

in mating up your pens. It is next to impossible to 
get them just right in color that is, absolutely per- 
fect. There are many reasons for this failure in the 
color of the backs of both males and females, but the 
mosc important one is the difference of opinion among 
breeders as to what really constitutes a standar.l 
back and the proper way to mate to produce it. One 
man holds to one idea, and the others to some other 
ideas, all working for the same end on different lines 
and all more or less mixing the blood of the different 
matings together to produce it. I do not wish to posa 
as the only proper one to give instructions, neither 
do I think I am more capable than any others, bat 
I do think that we should all work together on one 
line and see if we do not finally come to the right 
point, and then in buying from one another we shall 
not only help the breed, but help ourselves as well. I 
have made it a point to get the opinions of the best 
breeders I meet on this important subject, and I feel 
I am giving instruction that meets their approval and 
I feel confident that one long pull together will put 
America on top again, for it is a well-known fact that 
our English cousins have excelled us so tar. 

The surface color of the male's back should be a 
silvery white, with the black stripes slightly showing 
through in the saddle. The under-color should be 
dark slate; the knitted portion of the feather should 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



11 



be black with a narrow edging of white running entirely 
around the outer edge of feather similar to that of the 
hackle, with the exception of center of feather, which should 
have a narrow white center in the form of a diamond, see 
Fig. 11. By referring to the chart you will see those feath- 
ers just as they grow on the living specimen, and in what 
proportion the size of the diamond centers are at different 
parts of the saddle. 

In Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are shown three defective feathers, 
such as are met in every show, and which are hard to breed 
our. Fig. 12 is very good on the surface, but is too light 
underneath, and shows a white under-color. This kind of 
a back should be cut one point. Fig. 14 is better under- 
neath, but fails on the outer edge and in the diamond shaped 
center, feathers like this give the bird a kind of smutty 



The Tail. 
The tail is valued at eight points, four for shape and 
four for color. In color, it should be black with no trace of 
white in the tail proper. In scoring this section the color 
culs are easily understood, as you should cut for white in 
such proportion as it appears; if solid white the cut will be 
four, if half white the cut will be two, and if one-fourth 
white the cut will be one. In shape the tail should be well 
developed, well spread at the base, and of medium length. 
Here again you find the word medium, but as this has been 
explained in the neck section it will not be necessary to go 
over it again. By being well spread at the base the tail 
carries out the full outline of the broad back, and with the 
tail coverts long and well developed makes the nice concave 
swtcp from middle of back to end of tail, as shown in chart 




Fig. 12. 



Fig. 13. 
dekective b.4ck fe.4.thers— wyandotte male. 



KIG. 14. 



appearance on the surface and should be discounted one 
point. Fig. 13 is a bluirod feather, both on surface and 
underneath, and is one that should be guarded against at all 
times. The white and black mingle and give the feather a 
sort of brown cast underneath, and a mossy color on the 
surface. Such a back should be discounted two points. In 
repard to shape, if the back is too long the cut is from one- 
half to one and one-half; if too narrow or pinched, giving 
the specimen a narrow consumptive look when viewed from 
the top, the cut is from one to two points, according to the 
degree. It it is roached in the center the cut is one, if scant 
in saddle the cut is one-half to one. 



No. 1. The sickles should extend over the end of tail and 
curve nicely over the top. as shown in the chart. Such tails 
are scarce indeed, liut they are just what you want, and 
when you get them you invariably get the broad, short back 
so much admired. 

In Figs. 15 and 16 are shown two defective tails. Those 
like Fig. 15 are quite often met in the show room, but we 
are glad to say that such tails as Fig. IC are seldom seen and 
they will soon be a thing of the past. Fig. 15 is too high 
and not well spread, and the sickles are too long and too 
straight. Such a tail should be discounted one and one-half 
points. Fig. 16 is what is termed a squirrel tail, as it is 



12 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



carried past the perpendicular line and is supported by the 
back. Such a tail is an abomination, and it should be cut 
two and one-half points. 

The Wings. 
A pitfall was placed in this section by the framers of 
the old standard, that has brought much disappointment to 

the breeders of both Silver 
and Golden Wyandotte 
males. In many cases the 
wording could not be un- 
derstood by some of our 
up-to-date breeders. Turn- 
ing to your old standard 
you will find in the de- 
scription of wing coverts 
the following: "Upper weD 
black, lower web white 
with a narrow black stripe 
along the edge which 
widens as it approaches 
ihc tip. forming a double 
spangled bar aoro.-s the 
wing." 

A double spangled bar across the wing! Just think 
what kind of a job we are asking nature to perform when 
we demand anything of this kind. We are asking nature 
to spangle a wing, and lace a back, breast and body. In 
other words, wc are asking nature to work against herself. 
The standard of 1S9S has eliminated the word spangle and 
the iescription of the feather that formed the spangle, and 
it has inserted the word laced and described a laced feather. 
Now look again at chart No. 1. Here every feather that 
is shown has the lacing, and by adding the second row of 
feathers to the bar (it is omitted here in order to show the 
whole length of the feather) you will have as fine a barred 
wing as was ever seen and at the same time you will be 




Fig. 15— tail too high. 
(Not well spread.) 




Fig. 16 — SHOWING squirrel tail. 
following nature. With this chart before you it is unneces- 
sary to go much into details, and I shall only describe this 
section in such parts as are not shown here. 

I call your attention to Figs. 17 and 18. These are old 
cuts used in a former work bn this breed, and I shall not 
consider any part of them except the wing bow and flights. 
The wing bow is sometimes called the shoulder. This part 
of the wing should be silvery white and free from brass and 
sunburn, and the white should run down to the wing bar 
and break even across the entire wing. The flights should 
be black on the upper web and white on the lower web, 
see Fig. l.S. In Fig. 17 is shown a wing with the white 
running across the shaft and showing in that part of the 
feather that should be black. Such a wing should be dis- 
counted one point. In Fig. 19 is shown a feather that has 
the white on the extreme upper edge of the feather, and like 



Fig. 17 it should be cut one point. If the feathers that form 
the bar are not distinctly laced and fail in showing the bar 
as described, the cut is from one-half to one and one-half. 
If the shoulders are mixed with black or copper, and fail in 
the white, as shown in the cuts, the cut is from one to two 
points. In Fig. 20 is shown one of the old style spangled 
bars. It should be discounted one point. 
The Breast. 

Here is another important section, especially as we 
claim much for this breed as a market fowl. It is valued by 
the standard at ten points and is divided, five for shape and 
five for color. In shape it should be broad, deep and well 
rounded; in color, black, the feathers having large white 
centers and dark slate under-color. In the chart you will 
find both the color and the shape as referred to in the 
standard description. 

This chart might be just a trille deeper in front of the 
thighs and improve the shape some, but it is so near right 




FiG. 17 — U'VANDOTTE W^NG — SHOWING DEFl-XT OF WHITE IN FLIGHTS. 

that I will not attempt to improve it. In scoring the shape 
we pay particular attention to this .section, and it is cut as 
severely, if not more severely, than any other section of the 
body. If the breast is too narrow or too flat, the cut is from 
one-half to two: if the breast is wedge-shaped, failing to 
show the nicely rounded out appearance, the cut is from 
one-half to one and one-half, according to the degree. 

The breast bone is usually cut in this section, although 
it properly belongs to the body, but inasmuch as it is usually 
cut here I will call attention to it now and omit it in the 
body section. If the breast bone is slightly turned at the 
end the cut is one-half; if crooked so as to turn the entire 
front, the cut is from one to two. 




Fig. 18— wing of Wyandotte male— showing correct 

black and white in FLIGHTS. 

The feathers should be black, with white centers, the 
centers large, following the form of the feathers and free 
from any outside white edging. The chart shows these 
feathers just as they should be with the right proportion of 
white and black. One of the common defects in this section 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



13 



is a frosting on the outside of the black, and small cres- 
centic markings up near the throat. Fig. 21 shows one 
of the defective feathers quite often met in the show room. 
It should be cut one point. If a white edging appears on 
the outside of the black lacing the cut is one point. There 
is another defect that is quite common in this breed, even 
among the best laced birds, namely, a wide band of white 
down where the breast joins the body, caused by the feath- 
ers failing to lace up properly. 
When this defect appears it should 
receive a cut of from one-half to one 
and one-half points. 

Body and Fluff. 

This has been rather an unim- 
portant section and it was seldom 
cut for color or shape, but the new 
standard calls for a male bird laced 
on the thighs and following well 
round und.'^r the vent. So it will in 
the future be considered of consid- 
erable importance, for in order to get good lacing on 
other sections it is of importance that we get every feather 
lacid as perfectly as possible. 

By referring to the chart you will see that the male in 
both the silver and golden varieties is destined to be a 
much handsomer bird than formerly, and the breeder who 
has been giving this body lacing attention will reap a bene- 
fit by the improvement called tor by the new standard. In 
shape the bird should be deep in body and wide, deep 
enough to give the specimen a rounded out appearance, and 
broad enough to give plenty of room between the thighs. 

If the specimen is narrow or contracted, the cut is from 
one-half to one and one-half; if shallow, not extending well 
down, the cut is from one-half to one. If the feathers fail 
to lace up properly and show only an occasional laced 
feather ihe cut is one point; if the lacing is crescentic in 
shape, or the feathers show an outside lacing of white, the 
cut is one. If no lacing appears on the body or fluff the cut 
is one and one-half. 

Legs and Toes. 

In looking at the chart one will think the legs on the 
specimen are too large, and not in proportion, but those 
legs were made to represent a large, well-balanced bird, and 
to my eye are one of its chief charms. When I can get 
a good sized bone in the leg of my Wyandotte I am sure of 
getting a strong, vigorous bird, and I consider it of vast 
importance that we breed entirely away from the small 
Leghorn style of shank that has become quite common in 
our Wyandotte families. 

The thighs should stand well apart, and show up strong, 
with an abundance of meat on them. If narrow and con- 



slate color the cut is one point, if partly laced one-half 
point. If the shanks are spotted or shade to willow the cut 
is from one-half to two. Remember that any trace of feath- 
ers or down on shanks or toes disqualifies the specimen. 

THE WYANDOTTE FEMALE. 
I present in connection with this description of the 
Wyandotte female a chart that for correct standard color 





Fig. 20— white feather showi.ng old style spangled bars. 

tracted the cut is one point; if standing too close together 
the cut is one-half point; if the toes are crooked or deformed 
the cut is from one-half to one and one-half. If the thighs 
are not laced as shown in the chart, but show only a dark 



Fic. 19— flight feathers from male— showing defective white on ic.ktre.me ui'Per edge. 



of the Silver variety has never been equaled. In shape this 
chart does not suit me so well as that of the male, because 
this cut is a little too long, in fact it is a trifle overdrawn. 
But should you get as good a living specimen you need have 
no fear of not being among the winners in the best of com- 
pany. This chart was made from a sketch of the first prize 
White Wyandotte pullet at Boston, owned and bred by 
Mr. .\rthur G. Duston. It not only rejiresents the 
correct standard color, but it is the color you can 
depend on in the Silver variety to give you first-class 
e.\hibition females if good judgment is used in the selection 
of the male. In Wyandottes, as well as in most of the other 
varieties, the males are the more valuable so far as a money 
consideration is concerned. But in producing first-class 
exhibition specimens of either the Silver or Golden varieties, 
it is considered by breeders to be m.ore of an honor to get 
the female right, in fact, a breeder who gets in the money 
class with his females at the big shews is indeed a lucky 
exhibitor. In scoring the female here I shall omit tha 
Golden variety, as the same color is called for in both the 
Silver and Golden, with the exception of substituting the 
word gold for silver. Our aim is to make this book plain 
and easily understood without going any further into 
minute detail than is absolutely necessary. For this reason 
I have adopted the form of questions and answers which I 
feel will take the place of long descriptions and be of more 
practical value to the reader. 

I will now ask you to turn to chart No. 2 and study it 
carefully. Remember the color here illustrated is consid- 
ered perfect, and it is so shown on each section that you can 
see at a glance just what kind of color is required in all 
sections. Do not overlook the important point that you 
must have as much under-color as shown here if you expect 
the bird to hold its color and not fade. 

Question — What do 
you mean by fading'.' 

Answer — In all 
parti-colored specimens 
there is a constant 
drain on the system to 
supply the coloring p^^ 
matter, and the natural 
tendency is to grow lighter. If we do not look carefully 
after our birds when they molt we shall find that the feath- 
ers will come in nearly white, or with a crescentic marking 
instead of a lacing, or as poultrymen term it, they have faded. 

Q. — How would you avoid this fading? 

A. — By breeding only from specimens that show a good 




DEFECTIVE BREAST FEATHER. 



[OPYllCnTEi BY 
Poultry 




CHART No. 2-STANDARD WYANDOTTE FEMALE. 

Copyrighted Chart, Designed Expressly for this Book by Franklane L. Sewell, Showing Standard Wyandotte Female Shape 

(all varieUes); also Standard Striping and Lacing for the Different Sections (Hackle, Breast, 

Wing, Fluff, Etc.) of Silver and Golden Wyandotte Females. 



14 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



15 



slato under-color, and whose feahers show a rich metallic 
luster in the black instead of a dead or dirty brown or black, 
as is often the case. 

Q.— Cannot the black be carried too tar in mating as 
well as the white'.' 

A.— Yes. There is just as much trouble in one direction 
as in the other. 

Q. — How much of each color is correct? 
A.— What does the chart show? There you see fifty per 
cent white and fifty per cent black, and that is just what 
you want. 

Q. — The chart shows more white 
than black, does it not? 

A.— No. The outside of the feath- 
er is larger and makes the feathers 
look that way at a glance, but 
it you will study them a momenr 
you will see there is as much of 
one color as the other. 

Q. — Does this equal proportion of 
color come in all sections? 
-No, only in tlie nock, back, breast, body and wing 




Fig. 1a. 



A.- 

coverts. 

Q. — How about the tail and wings, what per cent of 
color do ynu want there? 

A. — Ths tail proper should be black, the tail coverts 
black edged with white isec chart). Now do not get mixed 
up on this description of tail coverts. Notice particularly 
where the feathers lie that show this white edging. They 
are not a part of the back or cushion, but form a row ct 
feathers that fit in between the tail and cushion the same as 
in a Brahma. The wing bow or shoulder is halt black and 
half white the same as the back, but the primaries are black 
edged with white (see chart), while the secondaries are 
black on the upper web and white on the lower web — about 
equally divided in color. 

Q. — Does not the neck of the female show more black 
than white? 

A. — No. In addition to the white outside lacing (which 
should run entirely round the lower end of the feathers and 
not blunt off as is often the case), there is a narrow inside 
lacing, which the standard allows, and which you mu.st have 
it you expect to breed well-laced feathers on all sections. 
Q. — Can you show us some of those laced feathers? 
A. — Yes. But I shall pass them by for a time and call 
them up in their proper place and fully describe them. I 
shall now take the bird section by section and give a general 
idea of ths detects and a proper valuation of the same. 

Symmetry, or typical carriage, weight and condition 
have been fully described in writing ot the males, so it will 
not be necessary to refer again to them as the cuts are the 
same in the female as in the male and when detects occur 
the percentage of discount is the same. 

The head is the same as that of the male, except it is 
neater and more in keeping with 
the sex. There are some defects 
shown in the cuts of combs, but 1 
shall pass them now and call atten- 
tion to them a little later. 
The Comb. 
From a fancy point ot view there 
is no section on a Wyandotte of any 
color that is so uniformly defec- 
i '/ '' tive in shape as the comb. In ten 

' r- , years ot judging I believe I could 

Fig. 2a. j 1 1 

count on the fingers ot one hand all 

the Wyandotte combs that I have passed as perfect. Breed- 
ers are not entirely to blame for this, as we have tried to 





Fig. 3a. 



produce something contrary to nature in many respects, 
and it is only in the past few years that our breeders have 
decided on a type that they are willing to consider proper. 
F"rom now on we may look for more improvement. I can 
notice in my own yards that the low, flat 
comb coming to a point in the rear, is 
gradually doing away with many ot the 
defects that gave me trouble in the past. 

From a fancy point ot view, there is 
nothing that adds so much to the beauty 
of this breed as a well shaped, well bal- 
anced comb and I am glad to see the 
effort that is being put forth to improve 
this section. The standard description 
ot this section is plain and easy to understand. It is the 
same as for the male, only the female comb is much smaller. 
"Rose, low, firm on the head, top oval in shape and the sur- 
face covered with small points or corrugations, the former 
preferred, terminating in a small spike at the rear; the 
entire comb and spike curving slightly to conform to the 
shape ot the skull." 

Fig. 1 A shows just such a comb as the standard 
describes and so does chart No. 2. The head ot Fig. 1 A is 
a little too shallow, that is, not quite deep enough through 
from top of skull to eyes. Y'ou will find this section better 
ill'istrated in chart No. 2, in fact I consider the head in the 
chart to be the best one Mr. Sewell has ever given us. Fig. 
2 A shows a comb and head that are both detective and they 
are joined to a poorly shaped neck and have as an ornament 
a poor pair of ear lobes and wattles. The head is bullet 
shaped, with the lower mandible too short, giving a poor 
curve to the beak. It should be discounted one point in 
scoring the head section. The comb is uneven and irregular 
with a poor spike at the back, and the spike turns up at the 
end instead ot following the shape of the skull. 

Q. — Wh;it would you discount this comb? 

A. — Two points. 

Q. — For what defect or defects? 

A. — One point for the hollow in the center ot comb, one- 
halt point tor uneven edges and the blunt portion where 
it terminates in a spike, and one-halt point tor ill-shaped 
spike. 

In Fig. 3 A is shown another form ot defect that is 
often met in this breed and one that if the standard is prop- 
erly applied makes a severe 
cut or discount. As is usual in 
combs of this kind it is car- 
ried on a poor shaped head 
and neck, in tact one follows 
the other almost as surely as 
day follows the night. The 
head is too high at top of 
skull and falls in front of the 
eyes, in fact it reminds one of 

a half-witted brute that only knows enough to eat. Such a 
head should be discounted one point. The comb is too nar- 
row, has a hollow in front and seems to break in tr.o in the 
middle. The front end has a slight showing ct pcnts o.-. 
top, but the back part is smooth and high in the center. 

Q. — What would you discount such a comb? 

A. — Four points. 

Q. — Pleasa explain such a heavy cut as that. You are 
cutting away fifty per cent of the comb when you cut four. 

A. — Yes. I am cuting away fltty per cent and it is a 
question if I should not cut more. In the first place the 
comb is one-half cut for poor outlines, one out for hollow 
in the center at front, two out for the break in the middle, 
and one-half out for smooth surface on top. 




16 



THE WYANDOTTES. 





Fig. 22. 



Fig. 23. 
h.\ckle feathers— silver wy.andotte female. 



In Fig. 4 A is shown still another type of head and comb 
and one that I am glad to say is not so often seen, still we 
find them once in a while, so I show it here and give it a 
valuation. This is what we call a game or snake head, and 
you will notice that everything about it is in harmony — 
lon,g, straight beak, shallow skull, narrow, pinched comb 
and scant wattles. Such a head should be discounted one 
and one half points and should never be used in the breed- 
ing pens. The comb in Fig. 4 A is one that has 
done a great deal of harm in the breeding pen, as 
it is almost sure to produce a lot of single combs. 
It is hollow in front, is smooth on top and is too 
long and snakey for its width. Such a comb should 
be cut two points — one point for being narrow and 
one point for the hollow in front and curved up 
spike at rear. With the illustrations of the perfect 
and defective combs before you I do not believe it 
will be necessary to go further with the description 
of this section. 

Wattles and Ear Lobes. 

This section has been fully described in the 
discussion of the male, and it will not be necessary 
to call it up again, as the cuts for defects in one sex 
fall just as severely on the other. 

The Neck of the Wyandotte Female. 

Here is a section that in the female is usually 
good with the exception of the lacing on the lower 
part of the feathers, which will insist on running 
blunt at the point and showing us a dark, smutty 
ring where it should be silvery white. This section 
is valued at ten points and is divided, four for 
shape and six for color. In shape it is almost in- 
variably good when the specimens are matured. 
Once in a while we find a few minor defects in 
shape, but not often. Where the neck is too long or 
gamey the cut is from one-half toone. Whereitbreaks 
at the junction of the back on account of the feath- 
ers of the hackle not being full the cut is one-half. 



When we find what we term 
a bull neck, such as is shown 
in Fig. 2 A, the cut is one, In 
color the neck should be sil- 
very white, each feather hav- 
ing a black center with a 
narrow outside white edging 
running entirely around the 
lower end of feather, and the 
standard says it may have a 
white shafting. You can see 
the white shafting in chart 
No. 2. If there were even 
more of it I should consider it 
better. 

In Fig. 22 is shown a feather 
with a good outside white 
edging and it is considered a 
good feather for the center of 
neck, but it fails in under- 
color. It is one of the defects 
to which I have before refer- 
red and it should be discount- 
ed one point. In Fig. 23 is 
shown a better feather taken 
from the same part of the 
neck, and one that in justice 
to the bird could not be dis- 
counted. Fig. 24 is another 
good feather taken from the 
neck, where that section joins the back. It is one of the 
best I have found with one exception, the white center is 
not large enough. I should prefer more white in the shaft 
of the feather. However, you could not discount this feather 
by the standard. 

The Back. 
Here is the most important section in a Wyandotte, not 
alone in shape but also in color. Unless this section is 




FIG. 24, 




Figs. 25-26— back feathers— silver wyandotte female. 
Showing light uader-color, which should be avoided. 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



17 




Figs. 27-28-29— feathers from back of Silver wyandotte female 

Fig. 27 should be cut for splotches. Fig. 28 may be called perfect. 
Fig. 29 shows too much white. 



fairly good you can never hope to make very radical 
improvements in your breeding. In shape it should be 
"short, broad and flat at shoulders, slightly cushioned; 
plumage abundant." In color it should be "under-color 
dark slate. Web black, with medium white centers; the 
black to be free from white, outside lacing; the white must 
be free from black or brown penciling; the black lacing to 
be sharply defined." Remember that the instructions to 
judges compel them to cut one point for white edging in all 
sections where it appears. 

Referring to chart No. 2 you will notice the way these 
feathers overlap and what a handsome color you get from 
such lacing. When you go to the extreme in this 
section you get a back that resembles the four 
feathers that are illustrated just back of the laced 
feathers, and then you have what is called the 
open or Sebright lacing. In order to get this Se- 
bright lacing you must sacrifice under-color and 
when you do this the first thing you know your 
color has faded as will hereafter be shown, and 
you have to go back again to black blood for help. 
I have no desire to injure the breeding of this 
Sebright color, but I warn young fanciers and 
especially amateurs, from going too far with it. 
It is not standard, and in order to get it you 
must sacrifice one of your very important breed- 
ing points — under-color. It is dangerous for an 
amateur to experiment. What I say is especially 
true of the Silver variety, as the Golden seem to 
hold their open lacing with less show of fading. 
This is accounted for in a measure by the fact 
that the sun does not have the same effect on the 
ground color of gold as it does on the silver. 

In shape I should, prefer a back a trifle shorter 
than the one shown in chart No. 2, in fact this 
breed is one of the shortest for its depth that we 
have in the standard, and when we get them that 
way we are getting a standard fowl and one that 
is strikingly beautiful. I do not know of a single 
breed that possesses so many good qualities for 
their weight as the Wyandotte. If a back is too 
long or too narrow the cut is from one-half to one 
and one-half, according to degree. Where the back 
is deficient in cushion, making it look long and 
straight, and it fails to make the nice concave 



sweep so much admired in this breed, the cut is from one 
to one and one-half. 

Q. — You spoke of faded feathers in the back. Will you 
show us feathers of this kind so we may better understand. 

A.— Yes. I will call your attention to Figs. 26, 27 and 
29. In feathers 26 and 29 you see the white has faded out 
at the edges, making a sort of crescentic or half-moon lacing 
and in feather 26 notice the light under-color that is almost 
sure to follow the extreme in mating. It is the color 
against which I have warned you. 

Q.— What about feather 27V 

A. — This is a sample of a mixed feather, such as you 
will flnd in these open laced birds. It is neither white nor 
black, but a kind of dirty brown, and it is offensive to the 
eye of a fancier. 

Q. — What would you discount feathers 27 and 29? 

A. — I should discount feather 27 two points, one point for 
the brown penciling inside the white and one point for indis- 
tinctcolorintheblack,thatis, brown where it should be black. 

Q. — What would you discount feather 26? 

A. — One point, one-half for white under-color and one- 
half for white running to the edge of the feather at the sides. 

Q. — What would you discount feather 25? 

A. — Ore-half point for light under-color. 

Q.— What about feather 28? 

A. — I should pass that feather as perfect, because it has 
the right per cent of white and black, and is clear cut and 
distinct. That is the kind of a feather we want on a Wyan- 
dotte female's back. 

Q. — What would you discount feather 30? 

A. — If all the feathers in the back were that color. I 
should discount it one point, as there is too much black 
there, in fact, it is nearing the other extreme. 

Q.— What would you cut feather 31? 

A. — I should discount this feather one and one-half 




Figs. 30-31 — defective back feathers — silver wyandotte female. Fig. 30, 
has too much black. Fig, 31 has black and white poorly divided. 



18 



THE WYANDOTTES. 




Figs. 32-33— back feathers silver wvandotie female— showing imperfect markings 

points, one point for penciling in the white center and one-half 
for the light under-color. Feather 31 has about the right per 
cent of white and black, but the colors are poorly divided 
and it makes a poor showing when compared to feather 28. 

Q.— Kindly explain about the long feathers up near the 
tail that are called tail coverts. Can you give us some idea 
how they should be before we leave this section? 

A. — First let me call your attention to feathers 32 and 
33. Here are two feathers that are both defective 
and which would receive the same discount though 
they have different markings. Fig 32 would be 
cut one and one-half points for black penciling 
and too small a center, one point for the pencil- 
ing and one-half point for the small center. Fig. 
33 would be discounted one point for the black 
penciling, and one-half point for the white run- 
ning to the edge on the right hand side. Feath- 
ers 34 and 35 are good feathers for this part of 
the back. They are not quite so well propor- 
tioned as they should be, but the black and white 
are clean cut and I should not discount either of 
them. 

Q. — You spoke of the other extreme in color 
and too dark mating. Will you show us a few 
feathers that will illustrate what you mean? 

A.— Feathers 36, 37 38 and 39 show just what 
you may expect if you carry this dark mating 
too far. Fig. 39 is only a white shaft and it 
should be discounted one and one-half points. 
Feathers 37 and 38 are no good at all, as they 



are neither white nor black, but a mixture of 
black and brown. When you find a back like 
this it should be discounted three points. 
Feather 36 should be discounted one and 
one-half points, one point for small center 
and one-half point for penciling inside the 
white. 

I believe that I have now explained this 
section so the amateur can readily under- 
stand it. By referring to the feathers from 
time to time you will have no trouble in mat- 
ing or in selecting your best bird for show. 
There are several sections almost like the 
back and I shall not go deeply into them, but 
I shall refer to this section from time to time. 
The Breast. 
This section is also a very important 
one, and you may consider what was said of 
the back applies to this section also. There 
are, however, some defects common in this 
section that are different from those of the 
back and in order to give you a clear under- 
standing of them I will describe them now. 
You want a clear, open center in the breast 
feathers, that is. you want more white than 
Ijlack, in fact, you should get just as much 
white as you can so long as you get the 
clear outside lacing of black. You will find 
this is not a hard task so far as the large 
centers are concerned, but there are many 
other defects that you must guard against at 
the same time. One of the worst of these 
is the outside edging of white, and since the 
standard cuts one point for it we must do 
our best to get rid of it if we expect high 
scores on our laced Wyandottes. Another 
point to consider is this: We have three 
distinct kinds of feathers in the breasts of 
our females, and each kind has its own peculiar defects. 
The first one is the short laced feathers under the 
throat, which will insist on lacing round like the 
hackle feathers, and quite often the white will run 
out to the edge . blurring the feather and making 
this part of the breast look splotchy. Just such a 
feather as I mean is shown in Fig. 36, and it should be dis- 
counted one point, that is, it should receive this cut if only 




FlOS. 36-37-38-39— FEATHERS from silver WYANDOTTE BACK (FEMALE), 

Showing Result of Extreme Dark Matings. 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



19 




m<^ 




^ 




Figs. 34-35 — medium good back feathers— silver Wyandotte female 

the short feathers of the upper breast are affected. If the 
entire breast were like that the cut should be three points, 
lu Fig. 41 is shown a perfect feather for this section and a 
comparison of the two shows how important it is to get this 
section right. 

As the feathers approach the center of the breast 
they become longer and broader and the centers 
widen out in proportion to the size of the feather. 
Figures 42, 43 and 44 are three feathers from this part 
of the breast. Feather 43 is what I should term 
standard or perfect, and it would pass without a dis- 
count, while feather 42 should receive a cut of one 
point for outside edging of white, and feather 44 a 
cu: of one for the penciling of black in the 
white. 

Along the lower part of the breast near the body 
is found still another form of feather which has its 
own peculiar markings and defects. These feathers 
are much longer than the others and the white centers 
are nearer the outer end of the feathers. It looks as 
though nature were proud of this lacing and pushed it 
out where it could be seen to better advantage instead 
of covering it up, which she would do if the white 
wei'e in the center of the feathers. Feathers 45 and 
46 are taken from the lower part of the breast. 
Feather 45 is very good and it would pass as standard 
while feather 46 shows the defect so common in this 
section, that is, the white runs out at the side, making 
a kind of half-moon lacing. It should be discounted 
one point. 

The shape to be perfect must be broad, deep and 
well-rounded. Chart No. 2 is perfection in this sec- 
tion. If the breast is flat or narrow, giving the bird a 
sort of consumptive look, the cut is from one to two 



according to degree. If it is not deep enough through 
from point of back to keel bone the cut is one. If the 
breast bone is crooked, the cut is from one to one and 
one-half. 

This section has in the past had too much impor- 
tance attached to it by the standard, in fact as many 
points were allowed to this section as to the back, but 
at the last revision this was changed and the body was 
e;iven a valuation of six points and the two points 
formerly given to it were placed on the more impor- 
tant section of back. In shape it is usually good. 
However, we sometimes find too narrow a body be- 
tween the legs and the discount is one paint. When 
the body is too long the cut is one; if scantily feath- 
ered giving the specimen a scanty appearance when 
viewed from behind, the cut is from one-half to one. 
The body should be black or dark slate, with narrow 
white centers. So should be the feathers that 
cover the thighs and that run back into the fluff. 
Feathers 47 and 48 are two good feathers, with the 
black and white properly proportioned. As the feath- 
ers begin to mix with those of the fluff proper they 
gradually lose these centers and are a sort of pepper 
and salt color, or, as we term it, a black powdered 

with gray. 

The Wings. 

^^■hile this is a very important section in the 

breeding of this variety. Artist Sewell has done his 

work so well in chart No. 2 that it is useless for me 

to go into a lengthy description. Every point is 

shown to perfection in the chart. There is a perfect 

- ■ wing with every feather as it should be and just as 

you will find them on a well-bred specimen. If you 

are striving for the laced wing bars on your cockerels, 

referred to by me in the description of male, you can get 

them by using just such a wing bar on your females as here 

illustrated. 

Remember the flight feather should be black on the 

upper web, and white on the lower web, see the one feather 




4U — DEFECTIVE BREAST FEATHERS — SILVER WYANDOTTE FEMALE. 

One bas too mvcU white; the other too little, 



20 



THE WYANDOTTES. 




protruding from the wing. 
The secondaries are white 
on the lower web, with the 
exception of a narrow lac- 
ing of black (see cut), and 
black on the upper web. 
Should white appear in 
the upper web of flight 
feathers the cut is from one-half to one and one-half. Should 
black appear in the white of secondaries, making a sort of 
pepper and salt color, the cut is from one-half to two. Should 
there be an edging of white on the outside of the wing 
coverts, or .should the centers be penciled with black, the 






Flti. 41 — PKRFECT BREAST FEATHER, 
SILVER WYAXDOTTE FEM.ALE. 




Figs. 42-43-4-1 — feathers from center of breast — silver laced 
wvANDOTTE. Fig 43 shows a perfect type. 

cut is one point. The feathers on the upper part of shoul- 
ders are small and gradually grow larger as. they approach 
the bar or center of wing. Feather 49 is a feather such as 
you will find on the upper part of a wing, while feather 10 
is one you will find down near the center of the shoulder, 
where Mr. Sewell has just laced the outside edges. 
The Tail. 

This is an easy section to understand, so far as color is 
concerned, as the tail proper and greater coverts 
are (or should be) solid black. Feather 51 is one 
often met in scoring this variety. It shows a 
white lacing at the lower end of the feather and 
such a tail should be discounted one point. 
Feather 52 is a defective feather often found in 
the greater coverts. It has a dirty brown color 
and should be discounted one and one-half points. 
Legs and Toes. 

Not one time in a hundred is a Wyandotte 
female discounted for shape of legs. They are 
almost invariably good in that respect. The 
trouble we have is to get them yellow enough 
without getting the black or green spots which 
are so characteristic of the American class. In 
color they should be yellow, and when black 
or green spots appear on them the cut is from 
one-half to one and one-half. If the legs are 
scaly or in bad condition from frosted or miss- 
ing toes, the cut is from one-half to two. 

I believe the average breeder can form a 
very good idea of the defects in the Silver and 
Golden varieties by a careful perusal of these 
pages, and I shall not dwell longer on them, 




Fig. 49 — feather from vi-per part of wing — 
silver wvandotte female. 

but I will take up the question of mating and in as few 
words as possible give some ideas about the course my judg- 
ment and experience has taught me is the best to pursue. 

MATING WYANDOTTES. 

First, good birds of both se.xes can be produced from a 
single mating, but it is a question if as many good ones can 
be produced from it as from the double mating. Let it be 
well understood that no matter how good your matings are 
you will find more or less poor birds will result from them. 
My own experience has been that a light hen, that is, a bird 
with rather open centers in its feathers, will give me my 
best pullets if mated 
to a male whose 
breast feathers have 
open centers, but 
who has a rather 
dark back. The cock- 
erels from this cross 
have never been 
quite so good, but 
I can by mating a 
dark hen to a med- 
ium light colored 
male get good cockerels with a small per cent of good pul- 
lets; A real dark mating will give a good per cent of good 
males, while the females are of little value. 

My own experience in mating has convinced me that the 
best results from a single mating may be expected from a 
male and a female a trifle apart in color but not extreme. I 
should select a male with a good shape and a good eye above 
all else. Then get a good clear stripe in back and hackle 
with good diamond centers in the back, and a breast that is 




Fig. 50 — WING feather, near shoulder — 

SILVER W^-ANDOTTE FEMALE. 




(;S. 45-46-47-48 — FEATHERS FROM SILVER WVANDOTTE FEM.ALE. 

Kos. 45 aud 46 are from breast; 47 and 48 from top of thigh. 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



21 



at least two shades darker than the female. To this male I 
should mate a female as much like chart No. 2 in color as I 
could find, and as good in shape and comb as possible. I 
should use for a mating like this, a female with a comb that 
is a trifle coarse if I expected good males and females both. 
When 1 say coarse I do not mean an ill-shaped comb, 





Fig. 51 — TAIL COVERT — SILVER W^'ANDOTTE FEMALE, 

Discounted for lacing of white. 



Fig. S2— greater tail covert— silver w^-andotte female. 
The dirty-brown color shown here is a common defect. 

but a comb a trifle larger than we would want on an exhibi- 
tion specimen. J-rom such a mating as this you may rea- 
sonably expect a fair per cent of both males and females. 

THEO. HEWES. 




CoBYRiCMTfO 
■REllfleU Poultry- JouRnni 



STANDARD WYANDOTTE SHAPE— MALE. 

"A Composite Ideal From Live Models"-As Submitted by the Reliable Poultry Journal for the Criticisms of Judges and Breeders. 



WYANDOTTE SHAPE-MALE. 



Criticisms of Foremost Poultry Judges and Prominent Breeders on "Composite Ideal Wyandotte Male Shape, from Live 

Models," as Drawn by Artist Sewell. 



^ I "\ HE RELIABLE POULTRY JOURNAL, published 
jf'\. in December. 1890, and January. 1S97. a pair of 

drawings made by Mr. Franklane L. Sewell. the 
world's greatest polutry artist, showing to the 
best of his ability, correct Wyandotte shape, 
male and female, as required by the American 
Standard of Perfection. For the benefit of the 
beginner, permit us to say that all Wyandottes, 
including the Silver, Golden. White. Buff and 
Black varieties, are required to be alike in 
shape; hence what is perfect or standard shape 
for the one variety is also for the other vari- 
eties. Exact proofs of these drawings were then 
sent by the Reliable Poultry Journal to the best 
known poultry judges and the foremost Wyan- 
dotte breeders of America, with the request that 
they approve or disapprove of same, according 
to iheir interpretation of the standard. Nearly 
seventy of the Judges and breeders favored the 
Journal with replies. After reading these criti- 
cisms. Artist Sewell, by previous arrangement, 
modified his drawings, so that the corrected 
drawings, shown in this book, more nearly rep- 
resent the accepted ideas of correct standard 
shape for Wyandottes than any previously pre- 
sented. 

Following are the criticisms of the judges 
on the drawing of the male, as first submitted: 
W. S. Russell, Ottumwa. Iowa: "The draw- 
ing of the male I would accept as ideal with the 
foliowing alterations: Hackle should be a little 
more abundant; from the drawing it appears 
bioken, or not developed; the comb extends out 
on the beak a little too far." 



know why be introduces a bird so much longer in body and 
back. I would add jusi a trifle to the lower part of the 
breast of Cloyd and a few feathers to the neck (where you 
can see they are missing) and use it as an ideal in prefer- 
ence to the one Mr. Sewell has given us here. 

"The color is much overdrawn. The standard calls for 



H. S. Babcock, Providence, R. I., judge and 
breeder: "My criticism upon the male Wyan- 
dotte illustration can be summed up in three 
words, not blocky enough. There is too much 
of the V shape in the figure. This V shape we 
expect in Langshans, but the Wyandotte has 
won and retains its reputation upon the block- 
iness of its build. Take that away and its repu- 
tation will be dissipated." 




Theo. Hewes, Trenton, Mo.. Judge and 
breeder: 'In regard to the Silver Wyan- 
dotte cuts I would say that if Mr. Sewell 
would place their heads against a solid wall and 
hit them in the rear with a pile driver he would come nearer 
to getting my idea of a Wyandotte. Why he wants us to ac- 
cept as a Wyandotte a bird that is long enough for a Java, 
I cannot understand. I will ask you to reproduce the cut 
of the cockerel "Cloyd." This bird was sketched from life 
by Mr. Sewell and pronounced by him to be one of the best 
he ever saw. If that outline pleased him I am at a loss to 



SILVER W^'ANDOTTE COCKEREL "CLOYD." 

This is the cockerel referred to by Mr. Hewes in his criticism on Mr. Sewell's ideal 

cut presented herewith. The bird was bred by Mr. Hewes and sketched 

from life bv Mr. Sewell. 



a bird with a light breast or large open centers growing 
smaller from front to rear. Those Sebright lacings are not 
standard and there is nothing in the standard that can be 
taken to mean that they are. We do not want any doubt 
about this variety. The standard requirements must be 
plain as day. This is the Wyandotte section of America. 
To-day I saw Mr. B". W. Hitchcock score two pullets at 95 
points, and there are lots more very near that mark. If the 



23 







Corv«i;htpo 

Br THt 

"ELIflBlE PouLTRr JOURNBL 



STANDARD WYANDOTTE SHAPE— MALE. 

Changed to Meet the Criticisms of Judges and Breeders, 



24 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



25 



boys down east want hot competition let them bring their 
birds to some of the large western shows. We might not 
win, but they would know that they had company.'" 



Charles McClave, New London, Ohio, judge and breeder: 
"The symmetry of the male is good; comb is good, but a 
trifle too far over the beak, covering the nostrils; head is 
good; ear lobes are too small; wattles are all right. Shape 
of neck is perfect; back is good enough; breast has a true 
Wyandotte shape; wings are all right; tail is good, but a 
trifle long; the shanks are good; middle toe is too long. The 
general outline is that of a typical ideal Wyandotte male. 
In this work Mr. Sewell has certainly produced a Wyandotte 
male reaching very near the 100 point mark. I consider this 
the greatest drawing Mr. Sewell has executed. This line of 
work is attracting wide-spread attention." 



P. H. Shellabarger, West Liberty, Iowa, judge and 
breeder: "In most respects the male cut is grand, but we 
think the back is a trifle long — the standard calls for a 
short back on a Wyandotte. If the tail were set forward on 
the back three-eighths of an inch, the back and saddle would 
then be long enough, and the wing would look longer. We 
believe it would make the proportion of the cut better, as 
the body would appear shorter, which is in accord with the 
standard, which calls for a short body." 



P. .7. Marshall, Sunnyside, Ga., judge and breeder: "The 
drawing of the Wyandotte male sent suits me to a dot, and 
I am not going to find fault with it just for the name of the 
thing. I like it very much, and I think if we could breed 
50 per cent of our stock like it we could make money out of 
it, the first year anyway." 



C. A. Emry, Carthage, Mo., judge and breeder: "Comb 
is too full in front and is set too far forward on the beak 
and head. The fluff is too scant." 



P. B. Zimmer, Gloversville, N. Y., judge and breeder: 
"We consider the illustration of the Wyandotte male a good 
one, and if a breeder could breed them as near perfection in 
shape as this illustration, his birds would be considered 
'clinkers' and score 'well up in the nineties,' providing the 
color was as good as shape. It seems to me. however, that 
the comb lies too flat on the base of beak and spreads (like 
combs we have often seen) over the nostrils. Again, to us, 
the bird illustrated has the appearance of being narrow be- 
hind the legs, in other words, that part is not in proportion 
to the breast and the tail is plenty large for the breed." 



D. T. Heimlich, Jacksonville, 111., judge and breeder: 
"Mr. Sewell has done himself proud in these Wyandotte 
drawings. Perhaps Wyandotte breeders may find faults in 
them, but I do not know where to look for them. The two 
are in perfect harmony and in accord with the best speci- 
mens met in the show room, and they show what the Wy- 
andotte may be bred to." 



L. P. Harris, Lincoln. Neb., judge and breeder: "I think 
the comb is set too far forward, the breast is not deep 
enough and the tail is carried too low." 



George O. Brown, Baltimore, Md., judge and breeder: 
"The male's tail is too low, comes out of the back too 
straight. Shape from tail (outline) is too much wedge- 
shape, fluff is not quite prominent enough. The cut is a 
trifle too full on the lower breast; legs are too stout for size 
of cut and a little short; upper part of neck is too thick. To 



me there is a wrong shape of the tail which I do not seem 
able to explain." 



H. B. Savage, Belton, Texas, judge and breeder: "The 
Silver Wyandotte male, in my opinion, has very few defects. 
I should like the eye a little higher in the head; the spike 
of the comb to curve with the neck a little more; ear-lobes 
to be a little smoother; tail rather more upright, giving the 
back a shorter appearance. Pluff is too scant, and middle 
toe too long in proportion to the others. Otherwise the cut 
suits me." 



A. B. Shaner, Lanark, 111., judge and breeder: "The 
Wyandotte male is too long in the back and not quite full 
enough in lower breast. Thighs and shanks are a trifle long 
and the fluff should be a little more developed." 



G. A. C. Clarke, LeMars, Iowa, judge and breeder: 
"There being no shading on beak to represent a dark horn 
color, the specimen appears to have a clear, yellow beak. 
There Is not quite enough arch to back of neck. A little 
more concave sweep to the saddle would be an improve- 
ment. The breast is rather flat; would look better with a 
full crop. The fluff is hardly what I should call full-feath- 
ered and well-rounded. The wings are carried a little too 
high. The tail is not 'well-developed.' Notwithstanding 
these comments, I consider Mr. Sewell's ideas of Wyandotte 
shape good enough 'to tie up to' " 



J. Y. Bicknell, Buffalo, N. Y., judge and breeder: "I 
have long since learned that criticism of a cut representing 
a fowl is one thing, and criticising the living specimen, 
which it represents, is quite another. We have been so long 
accustomed to see finely drawn outlines claiming to repre- 
sent the different breeds, that we look at them from one 
basis and scrutinize the specimens from another. We often 
see the outlines as the result of a 'snap shot,' and, in such 
cases, it correctly represents them as they were when the 
shot was taken; but how very seldom do we get a picture in 
that way that does the bird any justice whatever. The bird 
will not pose in its natural shape, but frequently shows off 
to such a disadvantage that he looks distorted. The R. P. 
J. had several such cuts in last winter, which were magnifi- 
cent misrepresentations of what they were intended to por- 
tray. Realizing the truth of the above, I will state that the 
male Wyandotte cut by Mr. Sewell is well executed, as would 
be expected, but the breast is a little too full; from the 
point below the neck hackle to the front of the hock, the 
outline is too much like an arc of a circle. Nearly all of our 
best cuts have the same fault, only to a greater extent." 



D. A. Stoner, Rensselaer. Ind., judge and breeder: "In 
criticising the Wyandotte cock I would say that the comb 
extends a trifle too far forward over the beak and should be 
squared up a trifle in front. Head and neck are good; so 
arc the wings and breast. I should like the tail raised a 
trifle higher, which would shorten the length of the body, 
making symmetry perfect." 



Arthur G. Duston, Marlboro, Mass., breeder of White 
Wyandottes: "It seems almost out of place for me to at- 
tempt to criticise the work of so eminent an artist as my 
friend, Mr. Sewell, but as we have honest differences I will 
do so at your request. Taking the male as a whole it looks 
sprightly, but a trifle fine and a little too hard feathered in 
breast and body. The head is nice, but I would make the 
lower mandible almost twice as thick as shown — it is too 
slender. Let us shorten the back a little. By adding about 



66 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



the width of one of the sickle feathers to the front of the 
tail, and raising the line of the back to meet it. not carrying 
the tail out or up any more, gives it a fullness, thus reliev- 
ing what I consider a 'barrel' look it has. The breast has 
sufficient fullness, but the body is not deep enough. It is 
given rather a slim appearance. I want a body that reaches 
well down to the hocks, only we do not want a Brahma, so 
the hocks must stand out in relief. The thigh, as shown, 
seems hard. A 'slick' male will have soft feathers on the 
thighs; it gives the bird a stouter appearance. The whole 
contour of a Wyandotte should convey the idea of stoutness 
without being a particle dumpy, but striking one as having 
considerable reserve force. Drop the wing a trifle and you 
will have an ideal male. If any breeder of Wyandottes 
could have fifty per cent of his cockerels match it in shape 
he would almost think the millenium had arrived, and 
surely he would have a 'gold mine.' I believe you will ac- 
complish a great work through the means of these discus- 
sions." 



Ira C. Keller. Prospect. Ohio, breeder of Golden Wyan- 
dottes: "The cut of the male is very pretty, making a fine 
looking bird. The comb is too broad in front and extends 
over the beak too far. Eye has not a mild enough expres- 
sion for a Wyandotte. Back about right, looks a little long, 
but if body were deeper the back would not look so long. 
Breast should be a little fuller and deeper at point of keel 
bone. Body should be deeper, or there should be more fluff. 
Tail not broad enough; it spread wider it would help con- 
siderably. Shanks are a trifle short for the size of the bird. 
Plumage of the bird suits me exactly, just what I like to see, 
lacing not shafting. One can readily see that there is a vast 
difference in the plumage of this male and what the old 
standard called for. The plumage of this bird, I think, 
meets the present standard requirements, which in a laced 
Wyandotte of any color is very beautiful." 



Henry Steinmesch, St. Louis, Mo., breeder of Silver 
Wyandottes: "The comb sets too far forward on beak and 
should curve a little more to shape of neck. Tail should be 
shorter and not so flat. It should be at an angle of £.bout 
forty-five degrees." 



A. C. Hawkins, Lancaster, Mass.. breeder of Silver and 
White Wyandottes: "The male is too high on legs and not 
blocky enough in form. The shape of head. neck, breast, 
back and tail is good. The fluff should be much fuller. 
With this change and a shortening of the legs the bird 
would be very fine in form and style." 



A. & E. Tarbox, Yorkville, 111., breeders of Silver Laced 
Wyandottes: "The cut of Wyandotte cockerel in general 
would be our ideal. We think it meets the standard require- 
ments. If we were to make any corrections, we should like 
to see the hreast a little fuller just in front of the thighs 
and the saddle not quite so high at base of tail." 



George H. Pollard, S. Attleboro, Mass., breeder of White 
Wyandottes: "I like the Wyandotte cock very well, but the 
comb is a trifle full in front and the wattles do not hang 
straight enough, the edges turn back or fold too much. 
The saddle is a trifle high and the tail is too long. The 
breast might be a little deeper and the thighs not quite so 
prominent." 



Knapp Brothers, Fabius, N. Y., breeders of White 
Wyandottes: "We consider this a most excellent represen- 
tation for an ideal male of this breed, which is not only one 



of the most popular in America, but in the world wherever 
thoroughbred fowls are raised. We suggest that the comb 
should be made a little narrower and shortened a very little 
in front. Wattles should be shortened one-eighth of an 
inch and well rounded and lightened a bit in the center to 
get rid of the fold and thick appearance. Now with a light 
mallet drive the tail into the body three-eighths of an inch. 
This will widen the body at its intersection with the tail 
nearly three-eighths of an inch on the side. Fill in the 
place that is a little deflcient where the sickles start. Then 
lengthen the wing a little and add one-eighth of an inch to 
lower breast. Lengthen the shanks a little. With these 
few alterations we have added a pound to the weight of the 
bird and it gives to the admiring public the most perfect 
cut of a Wyandotte male ever published," 



George W. Brown, Camden, Ark., breeder of Wyan- 
dottes: "The Wyandotte drawings received and are very 
good, but not up to our ideal of that grand old American 
variety. The male bird in head, neck, breast and shanks 
is perfect. The back should be a little more concave, and 
the tail should be carried a little higher and be made a 
shade heavier. Wing is too small and tucked under a little 
too closely. Saddle featiiers should be lengthened and 
should not be so regular where they come in contact with 
the wing. The fluff should be heavier." 



H. D. Mason & Sons, Fabius. N. Y., breeders of Golden 
Wyandottes: "The comb sets too far front on the beak; it 
should not cover more than one-third of the upper part of 
the beak. The tail should be shortened down to the second 
sickle feather. There is not sufficient opening in the fluff 
at vent. It is a grand cut, with many merits, and if any 
one owns such a bird and is tired of having it around we 
would appreciate it." 



A. Gaiser, Tecumseh, Neb., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: The only fault I flnd with Mr. Sewell's ideal 
Wyandotte male is with the fluff and wattles. There is not 
quite enough flufl' and the wattles seem a trifle large to me. 
If I could breed such shaped birds I should think I had 
about reached perfection in shape." 



J. I. DeLancey. Elgin, 111., breeder of Golden and Silver 
Wyandottes: "I think if there is any improvement to make 
that his fluff and lower part of breast should be a little 
fuller. His toes are a little long." 



C. E. Kunze, Garden Prairie, 111., breeder of Golden and 
Silver Wyandottes: "The comb seems to extend a least bit 
too far forward on the beak and the top of the comb extends 
sMghtly forward over the root of the comb, causing it to 
appear too thick just above the beak. His wattles seem 
rather long as compared with the standard Plymouth Rock 
male; in fact his whole head is a little coarse. His neck 
and back are good; his tail, however, is too slanting and the 
sickles are altogether too long. According to our under- 
standing of the standard the sickles should gracefully curve 
over the tail, the ends slightly projecting. In this illustra- 
tion they curve nearly around the tail, forming a half circle. 
We are not, as we understand, to criticise the color, but we 
think if the tail were made black it would make a much bet- 
ter impression. We notice that the fluft is rather scant and 
we think it would much improve the looks of the bird if it 
were made fuller. The wings seem rather small for the size 
of bird and the shanks rather thin. Taking him as a whole, 
however, he is a very good illustration of a Silver Wyan- 
dotte, and we would not mind having a number like him. 



'The wyandotths. 



27 



We think that his breast seems rather full, a little too full 
to conform with our ideal of a Silver Wyandotte. We wish 
the Reliable and Mr. Sewell a grand and deserved success in 
this undertaking." 



C. W. Nuss & Son, Coloma, Mo., breeders of White and 
Buff Wyandottes: "We think the comb is too full at lower 
or front end and it extends too far over the beak and is too 
full in center. Fluff is not full enough. He ought to be 
more circular by an eighth of an inch, tapering to a point 
each way. in order to compare favorably with some of our 
very best specimens." 



C. J. Andruss, Canandaigua, N. Y., breeder of White 
Wyandottes: "I consider the drawing a very good repre- 
sentation of the breed and I should pass the male without 
criticism." 



W. A. Irvin, Tecumseh, Neb., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: "I think the drawing of Wyandotte male by Mr. 
Sewell is the best I have ever seen. I consider the outline 
v.Ty nearly meets the standard requirements." 



E. G. Roberts, Fort Atkinson, Wis., breeder of Wyan- 
dottes: "Comb is too large and extends too far over the 
beak. Head and neck too large for the rest of the bird, but 
I think it would be more appropriate to enlarge the body to 
m.atch the neck. As it is now, the back and tail appear a 
trifle long, but if the body were enlarged, or feathering 
made more profuse, so as to nearly hide the thighs, the ap- 
parent length would disappear." 



C. S. Mattison, South Shaftsbury, Vt., breeder of Buff 
Wyandottes: "On the whole the cuts are very good. The 
principal objection to the male is the length and shape of 
his tail. It is too much on the Leghorn style — too long and 
narrow, which takes away from the blocky appearance, 
which is characteristic of the Wyandotte." 



John Torrey, Huntley, 111., breeder of Golden, Silver 
and White Wyandottes: "The comb is a trifle too far down 
on the beak and the tail is not carried high enough to suit 
me. I should prefer to see him stand a trifle higher on his 



legs, and there should be a little more fullness to breast. 
But take him all in all he is a fine bird and the drawing 
does Mr. Sewell much credit." 



J. A. Ayers, LaPlata, Mo., breeder of Silver Laced Wy- 
andottes: "I should lengthen the neck of the male Wyan- 
dotte and narrow it slightly; also raise the tail, making 
body and fluff a shade deeper in the male bird." 



S. T. Jones, Williamsville, 111., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: "I do not think the breast is as deep and full as it 
should be at point of breast bone. Body and fluff are not 
deep enough. Otherwise I think it a good cut." 



F. A. P. Coburn, Lowell, Mass., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: "I think the male bird's comb is a little too wide in 
front and it also comes down on the beak too far. The 
wattles are a little long and heavy. The neck and back are 
good, but I would have the lower part of the breast a trifle 
deeper and fuller. Otherwise the bird is my ideal of true 
Wyandotte shape." 



O. E. Skinner, Columbus, Kan., breeder of Silver Wyan- 
dottes: "I shall not offer any criticism on the male Wyan- 
dotte shape. It is fine." 



C. A. Clark, Fairport, N. Y., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: "My comments on the male Wyandotte are few. 
Adding one-fourth of an inch to breast would improve it; 
and that would bring the neck forward that much, and by 
so doing you would add the same distance to back. Shorten 
the middle toe, so that it would be in proportion with the 
others. That shape would suit me much better." 



D. F. Palmer, Yorkville, 111., breeder of Silver Wyan- 
dottes: "The cut of male is very good. I can find little 
fault with it, but I think it would be nearer perfect if the 
fiuff were a little heavier." 



J. D. Hunt, Jackson, Tenn., breeder of Silver and Golden 
Wyandottes: "The cut is fine and I do not see how it could 
be improved." 




STANDARD WYANDOTTE SHAPE— FEMALE. 

"A Composite Ideal From Live Models"— As Submitted by the Reliable Poultry Journal for the Criticisms of Judges and Breeders. 



28 



WYANDOTTE SHAPE-FEMALE. 



Criticisms ot Foremost Poultry Judges and Prominent Breeders on "Composite Ideal Wyandotte Female Shape, from Liv6 

Models," as Drawn by Artist Sewell, 




N THE opposite page may be seen Artist Sewell's 
conception of standard Wyandotte female shape, 
in profile. A close inspection of this drawing and 
the same as changed to meet the ideas of his 
critics, will show how truly the drawing as first 
submitted was a "composite ideal." Note the similarity of 
the comments. The majority agree on the same defects, 
which may be accepted as proof that the majority of breed- 
ers agree on the main points of the ideal of each breed. All 
of which is very encouraging to the breeders who believe in 
the desirability and possibility of an illustrated standard. 



W. S. Russell, Ottumwa, Iowa, judge and breeder: 
Drawing of female is too much on the Plymouth Rock type. 
It is a trifle long in body, the back is entirely too long and 
there is too much cushion. The fluff is so abundant as to 
cause the thigh to appear short. The general outline of the 
specimen lacks the round, plump appearance of the 
breed." 



H. S. Babcock, Providence, R. I., judge and breeder: 
"The same criticism applies to the female as to the male. 
She is not blocky enough." 



Theo. Hewes, Trenton, Mo., judge and breeder: What 
Mr. Hewes said about the drawing of the male Wyandotte 
applies with equal force to the female drawing. 



Charles McClave, New London, Ohio, Judge and breed- 
er: "Symmetry is good. Head is good, beak a little heavy. 
Comb is perfect; ear-lobes and wattles good. Neck outlines 
are faultless. Concave sweep of back is about right except 
it is a trifle too long when viewed from base of neck to tip 
of tail. Breast shape is correct according to my idea of a 
perfect Wyandotte. Wing is faultless. Tail is perfect when 
viewed alone; however, as stated above, back and tail 
together are a little too lengthy. Shanks are perfect, but 
middle toe is too long when compared with length of shank. 
General outlines form the nearest perfect Wyandotte female 
ever submitted to the poultry fraternity. What reader of 
the Reliable has the equal in his yards? Do not all speak at 
once." 



F. H. Shellabarger, West Liberty, Iowa, judge and 
breeder: "The cut of the Wyandotte female is the best I 
have ever seen and I can find but little fault with it. The 
comb is set a trifle too far forward and does not extend 
quite far enough over the back of the head. The beak is a 
little long. Other than these minor defects I think it fills 
the bill quite well." 



C. A. Emry, Carthage, Mo., judge and breeder: "The 
head is too small. Comb is too far front on head and beak. 
The lower breast is not full enough." 



F. B. Zimmer, Gloversville, N. Y., judge and breeder: 
"The hen must be classed as a 'good one,' yet there is too 
much space between base of hackle and root of tail, making 
her appear too long in back. Body is a trifle long for a 



Wyandotte. However, none of us handle very many speci- 
mens in a season that are nearer perfection in shape than 
the illustration." 



D. T. Heimlich, Jacksonville, 111., judge and breeder: 
"The lacing on back of female seems coarse, but as this 
section has been, and still is, the most difficult to breed 
perfect, this extreme representation will act as an incentive 
to breeders." 



George 0. Brown, Baltimore, Md., judge and breeder: 
"The female is loo long in back; tail is not quite high 
enough. There is too much fluff; breast is just a trifle full 
at the most projecting point. Comb does not run back as 
far on the head as it should. Legs are too thick. The bird 
is too long through the body." 



L. P. Harris, Lincoln, Neb., judge and breeder: "I 
have but one criticism to offer on the female Wyandotte cut. 
Ii would suit me better if it showed more depth of breast." 



H. B. Savage, Belton, Texas, judge and breeder; "The 
Wyandotte female cut is an excellent one and, in my 
opinion, its defects are very few. The eye should be set 
higher up in head. The lower part of breast is not full 
enough. Ear-lobes are not smooth enough. Neck needs a 
little more curve, caused by the head being held a trifle too 
far forward. The cushion part of the back is too long. 
Middle toe is entirely too loxig, being as long as the shank 
it.self." 



A. B. Shaner. Lanark, 111., judge and breeder: "Back 
too long, appears too much like a Plymouth Rock. Tail, 
thighs and shanks are a trifle long. It should be a little 
fuller in lower breast." 



G. A. C. Clarke, LeMars, Iowa, judge and breeder: 
"Though it does not affect the general shape of the speci- 
men, I should prefer to have the eye with a less wild, 
nervous expression. There should be some shading on the 
beak to represent a dark horn color. The breast line should 
intersect the front line of thigh one-eighth inch lower than 
the etching shows. The body is too shallow." 



J. Y. Bicknell, Buffalo, N. Y., judge and breeder: "The 
female has the same fault as the male, but in a greater 
degree. The breast in front of the wing bow is much too 
full. The beak is rather too straight. It looks a little as if 
the under mandible were pushing a trifle against the upper 
one. This fault is slight, however. I like both cuts better 
than any others of this breed that I have seen." 



D. A. Stoner, Rensselaer, Ind., judge and breeder: "I 
like the shape of the Wyandotte female very much except 
that the head rises too high above the eye, making the comb 
stand too near the perpendicular. The face should extend a 
trifle lower." 



Arthur G. Duston, Marlboro, Mass., breeder of White 

29 







RELI/lBlf P(lljlTi!v JuWNflt 



STANDARD WYANDOTTE SHAPE-FEMALE 



so 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



31 



Wyandottes: "I would suggest a few changes in the draw- 
ing of the female sent me. The head is too small for the 
biid. The breast lacks depth. Carry the line down from 
the fullest point in quite a liberal sweep to where it comes 
in conjunction with the line of the thigh. A well developed 
female will be almost as deep through the breast as through 
the fluff. I would shorten the back by bringing forward 
the tail on top a little, at least a quarter of an inch, which 
makes the tail look a trifle larger and relieves the look of 
too much length, ^o change the width of the wing through 
the center, narrow it up a little. I believe we then would 
have a model we all would be glad to breed to or to be 
judged by." 



Ira C. Keller, Prospect, Ohio, breeder of Golden Wyan- 
dottes: "Cut of the female represents a very neat, trim 
Wyandotte, but she does not look quite heavy enough, or 1 
might say not large enough. Head is too small. Beak too 
large for size of head. Back not cushioned enough and is 
too much on a straight line. If breast were a little deeper 
at point of keel bone the bird would look larger and more in 
proportion. I can find no fault with the plumage. It is 
just what we vant, but is hard to produce. Breast, wing 
and back have the .same size of lacing :this means uniform 
lacing throughout. The lacing of shoulders lies in rows, 
which is not natural. This is a handsome cut and reflects 
great credit upon Mr. Sewell." 



Henry Steinmcsch, St. Louis, Mo., breeder of Silver 
Wyandottes: "The comb starts too far forward on the beak 
and it should have a little more curve to shape it to the 
neck. Tail should be shorter and not so fat — have it at an 
angle of forty-five degrees." 



A. C. Hawkins, Lancaster, Mass., breeder of Silver and 
White Wyandottes: "The hen is too long bodied for a 
Wyandotte. She is too long in back and lacks fullness of 
breast. The tail is too large and full. Head, neck, fluff and 
leps are good. The ideal Wyandotte female should be 
blocky in form with full cushion and fluff." 



A. & E. Tarbox, Yorkville, 111., breeders of Silver Laced 
Wyandotte.s: "We have no comments to make on the female 
Wyandotte shape. We consider it good enough." 



George H. Pollard, S. Attleboro, Mass., breeder of Wh'.te 
Wyandottes: "Hen is not so good as the male. The back 
is too long and the saddle is too high. The tail is too high, 
full and long. There is too much of the body back of the 
legs. The breast should be deeper and the fluff not quite so 
heavy. Toes look like scratchers." 



George W. Brown, Camden, Ark., breeder of Wyan- 
dottes: "The female bird's head is a shade too small and 
is out of proportion to the body. The comb does not set 
well on the head, extending too far in front and not far 
enough behind. Back is too long and should be coupled up 
just a fraction, with the tail lowered and one or two more 
feathers added. The right leg has a twisted appearance, 
making the position of the bird look awkward. Otherwise 
we consider the drawing good and acceptable as a model." 



H. D. Mason & Sons, Fabius, N. Y., breeders of Golden 
Wyandottes: "Raise the eye and back corner of the mouth 
one-sixteenth of an inch, dropping the point of beak an 
equal distance. I^ower the back three-sixteenths of an inch, 
making the lowest point of back about midway between 
beak and end of tail. Shorten the tail one-half inch, both 
by setting it farther front on the body and by cutting off a 



little of the stiff upper feathers erf the tail. The five last sil- 
vered feathers extending out into the tail should not be 
there. All the cushion feathers have too large open centers. 
They should be medium in size. Too many silvered feathers 
show on thigh and fluff. They should have disappeared at 
the lower line of breast. The back from base of hackle to 
lowest point of back, should be flat, and it may be so hol- 
lowed by the folding of elbow of wing next to back feathers 
that the hollow will hold a tablespoonful of water. This is 
an aristocratic hen, and she has gotten into a habit of 
sniffing up her nose and looking out of the corner of her 
eyes downward upon her less favored neighbors." 



Knapp Brothers, Fabius, N. Y., breeders of White 
Wyandottes: "The Wyandotte female is also very per- 
fect in shape, but to us she has the appearance of being 
below the standard size, requiring a little more length, 
breadth and height to give her size. The head is a little too 
small; comb should be raised in front and extended farther 
back, at least one-third of its length being back of the eye. 
The wattles are a trifle too small. Add one-eighth of an 
ir.Lli to the lower breast as in the male. Shanks are a trifle 
short and middle toe is too long." 



A. Gaiser, Tecumseh, Neb., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: "I consider the female almost perfect. A little 
more depth of body in front of thighs would suit me better. 
In my judgment this is the better of the two Wyandotte 
drawings." 



J. I. DeLancey, Elgin, 111., breeder of Golden and Silver 
Wyandottes: "The female is a little full in back, also in 
the breast. The toes are a little long and the white centers 
are a trifle large, but I should like to have a yard of birds 
that looked as perfect as this pair." 



C. E. Xunze, Garden Prairie. 111., breeder of Golden and 
White Wyandottes: "I consider the hen to be much nearer 
ideal shape than the male. Her main defect is too much 
cushion at base of tail, extending forward nearly to the 
middle of back. Breast is a little full, and she is very 
loosely feathered. With these exceptions she fits our ideal 
very well." 



C. J. Andruss, Canandaigua, N. Y., breeder of White 
Wyandottes: "I should prefer the neck of the hen to be a 
trifle longer and the lacing to be a little more distinct about 
the head. If I were breeding Silvers and had a uniform 
flock of well-bred birds as good as these drawings represent. 
I should feel that 1 had slock of which I could well feel 
proud." 



W. A. Irvin, Tecumseh, Neb., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: "Head of female is too small for the size of bird. 
If it were fuller in breast it would be an improvement. I 
consider it a fine drawing." 



J. A. Ayers, La Plata, Mo., breeder of Silver Laced Wy- 
andottes: "The female Wyandotte so nearly meets my idea 
of standard requirements that I can not comment adversely 
on her except to say that the openings in lacing are too 
large, making the bird too light in color." 



P. A. P. Coburn, Lowell. Mass., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: "The Wyandotte female shape is not so near my 
ideal as the male's. I would have the crown of the head 
lower, which would give the head that broad appearance 
which is desirable, then the comb would not be so perpen- 
dicular as it is now. The neck is good, but the back is too 



32 



THE WYANDOTTES; 



long and a little too much cushioned. The tail is a little 
too high and too long. I should have the breast a little 
fuller, but the fluff is the least bit too full. The toes, 
especially the middle one, are perhaps a little bit too long, 
In other points the female is about my ideal and I would 
not object to any number of white ones as good as she." 



Buff Wyandottes: "The hen is nearer perfection than the 
male, but I think if she were a little fuller where the hackle 
comes down on the back her appearance would be im- 
proved." , 



E. G. Roberts, P'ort Atkinson, Wis., breeder of Wyan- 
dottes: "I think the front half of the bird is too small in 
proportion to the rest of the bird. Posterior shape good, 
but the tail is unnatural. It should be shorter and have 
less spread. Lower part of breast and body should be 
feathered profusely enough to nearly hide the thighs." 



John Torrey, Huntley, 111., breeder of Golden, Silver 
and White Wyandottes: "The female is my ideal of Wyan- 
dotte shape. I should prefer to have the breast a little fuller, 
otherwise it is the best drawing of Wyandotte shape I have 
ever seen." 



S. T. Jones, Williamsville, 111., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: "This is a fine cut with the exception of back and 
saddle or cushion, which I think is a trifle long. Otherwise 
I have no suggestions to offer." 



0. E. Skinner, Columbus, Kan., breeder of Silver Wyan- 
dottes: "Cut of female is good, but it seems to me that the 
tail should approach a little nearer a square angle at the 
top." 



C. S. Mattison, South Shaftsbury, Vt., breeder of Buff 
Wyandottes: "The tail of the female is too long and nar- 
row. I notice the artist has followed the standard in draw- 
ing wide lacings. How much better it would have appeared 
had he made a narrow black edge such as we find in the best 
of our Sebright Bantams, such as the artist produced for 
one of our English journals. A narrow black edge around 
a white center is, in my humble opinion, what is wanted to 
perfect our females." 



C. A. Clark, Fairport, N. Y., breeder of White Wyan- 
dottes: "The shape of female is a beauty, far superior to 
the male. I have no comments to make. Allow me to con- 
gratulate the R. P. J. on the success it is meeting with this 
series of ideal shapes. The readers should heartily appre- 
ciate these efforts, as it certainly must bring us all nearer 
to one mind." 



D. F. Palmer, Yorkville, 111., breeder of Silver Wyan- 
dottes: Except that I think the female a little long in 
back I should pronounce her very near perfection." 



C. W. Nuss & Son, Coloma, Mo., breeders of White and 



J. D. Hunt, Jackson, Tenn., breeder of Silver and Gol- 
den Wyandottes: "I have no criticisms to offer on the fe- 
male cut. It is grand." 




TiRST.KflNSHS Cliy 
FiRsr St LoviS 

afs- ■ 

ORtO \ OWNED Bf 

7l\E.TftR6% 

VuHMIUE.ILf 



SILVER WVAKDOTTE HEN— BRED AND OWNED BY A. & E. TARBOX, YORKVILLE, ILLINOIS. 



SCIENCE IN BREEDING. 



The Advent of the Wyandottes— Shape— Proper Surface Color— Different Varieties— Crossing— Breeding. 



BY T. F. M GREW. 



[Reproduced from a series of articles on this subject, written for the Reliable Poultry Journal,] 




One was 



ERVING the American Poultry Association as 
one of a committee to examine into the merit 
of the then called "American Sebright," caused 
my personal acquaintance with them to begin 
with the public appearance of our Wyandottes. 
a Hamburg, another we could not place 
with satisfaction, and not until they had begun to show 
their present form of body did they gain a name or recog- 
nition from the association. In their make-up is the Se- 
bright, the Hamburg, the Brahma and the Cochin. When we 
contemplate this union of the spangle of the Hamburg and 
the penciling of the Brahma, no wonder the mossing of the 
centers shows on our Silver females; and it is not much bet- 
ter for the Goldens that have Partridge Cochin and Brown 
Leghorn blood with which to contend. This combination 
gave one of the very hardest problems for the breeder to 
handle, for the reason that he had to produce on his females 
a marking of feathers almost unknown to the foundation 
blood. 

The first standard called for almost the same color and 
markings of the present day. Then the breast of male had 
a medium sized, white center; now it is a large, white cen- 
ter. In females the first standard called for a small white 
center for back and a white breast evenly laced with black. 
See our standard of to-day and contemplate the few changes 
from the original, and consider our advancement in ideas 
in just fifteen years. Our written law is almost the same as 
was given to the crude original of our present modern 
Wyandottes. 

We say, with emphasis, "The standard calls for so and 
so." Yes, just the same as fifteen years ago. Then we saw 
specimens score over 90 that to-day we could not endure. 
Under this description, for fifteen years, have we seen the 
.same gentlemen, year after year, tack up the same grade of 
card, giving credit at 93. Allowing that the birds have im- 
proved each year one-half point, to-day, as we reason, the 
tack should support one card at least with the perfect mark. 
Bui this would bring a union of condemnation upon the 
head of any who should dare such nonsense. And why'.' 
"We have learned by experience that the birds grow better 
each year." What is this experience? Some call it com- 
parison. 

I hear my readers saying, "The above has no bearing 
upon the question of handling our breeding stock." This 
may be, but straws show the way the "wind blows." So 
may the above keep you from tolerating bad shape in any 
fowl you may select to produce of its kind. 
Wyandotte Shape. 
The proper Wyandotte shape is quite as striking as the 
form of a game cock. What would be our opinion of him 
who selected an ill-formed game cock as the superior of one 
of proper form, simply on account of its color'.' The same 



rule should guide in the selection of the Wyandotte. Fre- 
quently see a finely colored buff fowl of Plymouth Rock 
shape gain the honors as a Wyandotte. Such a shape should 
not be allowed to gain the honors either in a show or in the 
breeding pen. Nothing short of annihilation will satisfy 
when a white feather is found in a black Wyandotte; but we 
gaze with approval upon an overgrown Black Hamburg 
labeled as a first prize Black Wyandotte. We destroy the 
fine form with true Wyandotte qualities for the one white 
feather, and proceed to produce a flock of Hamburgs from 
this winning wonder who has fooled us all with his beauti- 
ful color. 

The best all-'round Wyandotte to-day Is the Silver. Its 
size is good, its form most perfect, considered from the util- 
ity standpoint, and its color is the best — not white enough 
to soil, nor black enough to injure for market purposes. It 
simply needs continued attention to make it as perfect a 
show fowl as its cousm^ the White. Like all penciled or 
spangled fowls, it must be line bred with considerable care 
to free its plumage from the bad markings of the present 
time. There can be no real reason .advanced showing why 
the Wyandottes, both Silver and Golden, cannot be brought 
as close to the standard line of perfection in color as any 
barred, penciled or spangled fowl. The laws of reproduc- 
tion teach us that in white fowls the pureuess of the color 
can be materially injured in a single year by the use of a 
male having a yellowish cast in plumage. If this slight cast 
in color will injure the whole flock, if a slight creamy cast 
is so injurious, what may we expect to come to the center 
color of the plumage of our female Wyandottes unless we 
use more consideration in our union of colors'/ 

Take the one section of the after portion of back of 
female. How few do we see that have feathers with good 
centers, free from mossing! We look into pen after pen in 
our show room and hunt for the ideal black plumage so sel- 
dom found, and wonder why we make haste so slowly in this 
direction. Many have cast the breed aside simply on this 
ground. They say the almost impossible task of clearing the 
plumage has discouraged them from ever gaining the de- 
sired quality. Have you given your best consideration to 
these facts in selecting the birds for your breeding pens, or 
have you overlooked important factors'.' 

Proper Surface Color. 

The so-called "top color" of the Silver Wyandotte male 
should be quite like the Dark Brahma, silvery white in 
color. Far better not to mate at all than to use males with 
a brownish gray top color. For years we have struggled to 
clear the white centers of the black plumage of our females 
by using males with this smoky top plumage. How often 
we hear, "The color comes largely from the male, size from 
the female," and then we proceed to clear the backs of our 

33 




SILVER LACED WYANDOTTES. 

By SEWELL, NOVEMBER, J899. 

Standard Weights— Cock, 84 pounds; hen, 64 pounds; cockerel, 74 pounds; pullet, 54 pound.-. 

Characteristics — Cost of raising to maturit\', 70 cents; annual cost of keeping, 80 cents: average egg yield per year, 175; average 
number of eggs to pound, 9; average constitution. They are good as foragers; can stand confinement; are fine as sitters and 
good as mothers. Grain and flavor of flesh good. 



34 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



35 



females with a male whose saddle plumage is about as black 
as if smeared with paint, and then wonder the next fall how 
it happened. 

Why not this year try just one pen, or better, one male 
and one female off in a corner somewhere by themselves, 
the female selected because she is the best Silver Wyan- 
dotte you own or can obtain. Mate her to a male just as 
pure silvery white as a Hamburg, if he can be found. Have 
him a real Wyandotte in every way and real pure, silvery 
white, with the clean-cut black stripe in hackle and sad- 
dle, the white diamond-shaped center of saddle to be clear 
and perfect. Study with care what the diamond saddle cen- 
ters are for a Silver Wyandotte. Be sure you fully under- 
stand them. Go over and over the wording of color de- 
mands, study it section by section, and see if there are not 
some things you did not quite understand, and this may help 
in gaining the desired end. Only by this close study and 
care will the much-desired clear cast of plumage be ob- 
tained. 

The many admixtures of blood in the Wyandotte, both 
Silver and Golden, must continually be at war with each 
other. The transfer of specimens from one yard to another 
brings about continued internal disturbances that can only 
be lessened or controlled by closing out these faults by care- 
ful breeding. Close family unions only should be allowed. 
Build up four families of your own and transfer them from 
one to another, but never hope to improve the color of your 
females by using males with the brownish cast in top plum- 
age. 

In Dark Brahmas the best females are bred from males 
with the light under-color. The best breeding strains of 
partridge color have the light under-color, and so must the 
dark under-color of our Wyandottes, both Silver and Gol- 
den, be softened considerably to gain the much desired sur- 
face color. Black casts its shadow over every color; its in- 
fluence is self-asserting, and while we can not obliterate its 
influences over the center markings we can soften and cur- 
tail its dominating power and with care confine it to its own 
domain. This process will weaken the under-color, and as 
this is gained the clear top-color in males will be forthcom- 
ing and the clearer centers of the females. 
The Selection of the Sire. 

The ideal Silver Wyandotte to be used as a breeding 
bird should be free from brown or any color save the pure 
silvery white with black stripe. His color should be as pure 
and true as that demanded for the exhibition Dark Brahma. 
Consider for the moment your own matings of last season 
compared with this. Did those of last year produce as you 
desired? If not, in what respect did they fail? We fee! 
assured it was the same trouble that all have, mossing of 
the center of the feathers. Why? Was it from that brown- 
ish backed male? If so, have v/e better colored males this 
year, or are we still endeavoring to clear up our white cen- 
ter markings with brown? 

The same conditions hold good with the Golden. The 
purer and clearer the top color of the male, the better his 
females will be. Better by far encourage light under-color 
in your males, especially in the Silver variety, than to con- 
tinue these dark shadings of surface color on back. Do not 
become frightened at gray in the under-color, providing it 
gives you a pure, true silvery white for surface color of 
back. The same conditions hold control of both Golden and 
Silver. The same course will improve both, their feather 
markings being the same. The best handlers of the Golden 
variety have not only gained the clear golden diamond cen- 
ter in the saddle plumage, but have also the same center in 
the hackle. These clear centers can also be gained and 
maintained, with care in mating, in our Silver variety. 



The theory is advanced that by making the effort to 
clear the plumage in this way too much white will be the 
result. No doubt this will be so in some cases, more espe- 
cially with those who encourage very large white centers on 
breast, but those who use care and judgment and keep the 
black in the females bright and pure in surface color and 
select those for breeding that do not incline to a predomi- 
nance of white, will gain their desire. Do not try to do this 
all at once. Do not make the mistake of using males with 
too much white. The proper males to use are those as clear 
and clean as possible, that have the distinct black center 
stripe in both hackle and saddle and that are as free as 
possible from any show of the dark collar about the neck 
and dark shading on the back. 

The Buff Wyandotte. 

The originators of all our new buff varieties seem to 
have striven to obtain a very dark reddish color trimmed 
with black. The early specimens of all buff varieties came to 
us with black wings, tails and necks. Much hard labor has 
been expended to obliterate this. The ardent task has been 
partially overcome in a very short time, when compared 
with the Cochins that have been scientifically bred so many 
years and still are not free from these troubles. 

While in England, Mr. E. P. Shepherd, of Croton Falls, 
N. Y., made some public statements on buff color, from 
which we quote the following as published in an English 
journal: "In the course of conversation Mr. Shepherd gave 
it as his opinion that the English Buff Leghorns were much 
inferior to the American. The English fancier, he thought, 
had been breeding for too dark a color and consequently 
many of their specimens come too ruddy on the wing. Said 
Mr. Shepherd, 'The pale lemon color is the standard color 
in America, ground color being as important as the sur- 
face.' " 

To these remarks Mr. E. C. Lester Kay, the originator of 
the Buffi Leghorns in England, takes exceptions and con- 
tends for the deep orange buff, and terms those who differ 
with him thus: "I am sorry to see the ignorant dead set 
made by some reporters of late at what they are pleased to 
describe as redness or warmness on wing bow in the case 
of Buff Leghorn cockerels, this being in reality in most cases 
merely the extra richness imparted to an orange buff body 
color by the attendant luster of the part in question, a nat- 
ural and ineradicable attribute of sex." 

No one can equal the tenacity of an Englishman in 
holding a position that is in the least tenable. But this is 
the finest excuse for a red wing bow yet presented, "an in- 
eradicable attribute of sex." We call it a curse to the buff 
varieties. 

If quoted correctly, Mr. Shepherd's remarks are to be 
regretted, just on the issue of our new standard, in which 
all buff breeds are alike described in color as one even shade 
of rich golden buff, free from shafting or meally appear- 
ance. It is quite unfortunate to have the whole of England 
told that we prefer the pale lemon color. 

Experience has taught me that the better way to handle 
the buff color is to eradicate as far as i>ossible all black from 
the females; drive it out. even if white comes to take its 
place. In so doing the males should at the same time be- 
come almost free of any black, other than in the under-tail 
plumage. By so doing the surface color becomes very light. 
It is an easier task to strengthen this than to be rid of the 
black. To build up the color when pure buff and free from 
black, mate together your best colored specimens, selecting 
those showing the best or richest under-color. Continue 
thus from year to year till you strengthen the color itself 
by selecting the best. In so doing you secure the rich golden 
buff in its purity, free from red, black or white shadings. 



36 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



Black Wyandottes. 
Recently we have seen some Black Wyandottes of more 
than usual quality. As we contemplated their general make- 
up we conceded their value as a fancy fowl, and found they 
were only seven out of a class of 184. So we must consider 
them as simply the ornamental portion of the Wyandottes. 
After looking them over carefully we drifted to the coops 
containing the Sumatras of the most lustrous greenish 
black, the wings, both web and quill a shiny black, the un- 
der-color as dark as night, with beak and legs very dark, 
almost black in color. The Black Wyandotte must be dis- 
qualified if shanks are other than black shading into yel- 
low, bottom of feet yellow. For what reason? Like the 
Sumatra, so few exist that they cut no figure as a market 
fowl. Why not give them the same chance as the ornamen- 
tal Sumatra and encourage the black beak and legs and the 
rich, black plumage, and make them truly a fancy fowl? It 
prudence and Judgment could unite in making the Black 
Wyandotte a fowl of most perfect Wyandotte form with a 
bright, glistening, greenish black plumage and very dark 
beak and legs, it could be transformed into one of the most 
attractive of all the black fowls, and become an ornamental 
variety of the Wyandotte family. 

White Wyandottes. 
So much has been written of the albino portion of this 
breed it will be useless to multiply words regarding them. 
Study well the color plate in the January, 1899, number of 
the R. P. J.; consider what is said in their favor illustrative 
of the same cut. Then turn to page 911 of the same issue 
and study what we say of white color. The careful consid- 
eration of this whole article on color may be of much bene- 
fit in the handling of your stock, also in the consideration of 
future articles on these subjects. 

What we have said about color must not be taken as 
absolutely unbending in its results. White fowls have been 
produced of almost pure plumage, having the yellow leg and 
beak. Pure black fowls have come to notice with almost 
yellow beak and legs, but their number compared with the 
whole is so very small they can only be considered as an 
accident. We can only claim to have mastered the art of 
producing standard Wyandottes when we can bring together 
a class of many hundreds of all colors with their Wyandotte 
form so nearly alike throughout all the classes as to chal- 
lenge one to say either variety outclassed the other on 
shape, and the coloring and markings of each variety so uni- 
form that one could hardly tell them apart were it not for 
their leg bands. Then we could say our work on this grand 
breed of American production has been handled in a cred- 
itable manner. 

New Information. 

Since writing the above, I have visited the poultry exhi- 
bitions at Chicago and Boston. At the former, in conversa- 
tion with those interested in Silver Wyandottes, my opinion 
was strengthened in regard to there being entirely too much 
shading encouraged upon the backs of the male birds with- 
out having any attention paid to the facts concerning the 
proper mating required to clear the back plumage of our 
females, as previously stated. 



At Boston the most perfectly colored female I have ever 
seen was shown. Her plumage was black and white — not 
brownish black, but black and white. Each feather had a 
clear, perfect center of white, pure and free from mossing. 
All over her whole body each feather seemed to conform to 
a regular make-up proportion to its size, the smaller ones 
just as proportionately centered as the larger ones, making 
a perfect union of colors. 

In conversation with Mrs. Comyns Lewer, of London, 
England, who owns the greatest poultry journal in England, 
she said: "All your Wyandottes, except the Silvers, excel 
those we have in England; but the Silvers are not nearly so 
good as ours. This one pullet" (that I have mentioned 
above) "is fashioned after our style of English Silver Wyan- 
dottes in England." She further said: "The white must be 
pure white and the black a rich, glossy black; not a dull 
black, as seen here." She also spoke of the color of males 
being quite inferior to that of the English birds. 

It is my purpose to pursue this matter further and to 
secure, if possible, some feathers from the other side and 
with them some information concerning the Silver Wyan- 
dottes of England. It may be that when the matter is looked 
into we will find, as with their Barred Rocks, which are so 
different from our style of breeding as to almost be a dis- 
tinct variety, that the same is also true of the Silver Wyan- 
dottes. 

Bad Effect of Crosses. 

Before me is a letter, asking whether or not I would 
advise the writer to attempt to improve the size and quality 
of his Buff Wyandottes by the use of Buff Cochin females. 
My answer to this would be decidedly no. The Buff Wyan- 
dottes have so far advanced as to be almost entirely free 
from feathers on the legs and from the Cochin form of sad- 
dle and fluff. Many hundred Buff Wyandottes of high char- 
acter have been exhibited during the last winter. Rather 
than resort to the use of Cochin fowls to improve the Wyan- 
dotte in any particular whatever, it would be far better to 
select the very finest specimens in size and shape that can 
possibly be secured, and from them proceed to produce, 
selecting for remating the finest specimens of the year. 
Look well to size, shape and color. Do not hesitate to pay a 
good price for a really meritorious bird, for in doing so you 
will gain at once what you had hoped to gain in three or 
four years by cross breeding. Surely each year of time is 
worth to you far more than the cost of a high class speci- 
men could possibly be. 

English vs. American Wyandottes. 

I am also asked whether or not it is a fact that breeders 
in England have secured better surface color on their Wy- 
andottes than we have in this country. I am now in posi- 
tion to state that in size, color and marking, the English 
people are in advance of us, in both Golden and Silver Wy- 
andottes, with this difference: "In the Golden we have the 
rich, bright, bay color; they have a lighter color, more like 
buff. In Silvers the top color of their male bird is much 
purer and clearer than with us. The females are also better 
penciled. In shape, like all other English birds, they are 
brod more to Cochin type and with more Cochin fluff than 
we have on our birds. 



MATING FOR BEST RESULTS. 



Overweight Birds Not Desirable — Shape and Then Color to be Considered — Points Wanted in Bresders- 

Jt is Essential to Retain the Identity of the Young Stock. 



BY HENRY STEINMESCH. 




EUHAPS a good way to start this article would be 
to repeat what I have so often seen in print, 
that is, "To breed poultry successfully one must 
have a fancy for the business." Not only this, 
but one must have patience and must be willing 
The progressive breeder of to-day is not satisfied 
in producing just as good as he had last year; he wants 
something better. 

If one goes into the poultry business he must expect 
mistakes and disappointments and they must be overcome. 
None of us is infallible. We are more apt to learn by our 



to study. 



should consider the shape or symmetry of the birds of de- 
cidedly the most importance, and color of neck, breast or 
back would be a secondary consideration. 

In Silver Wyandottes I consider the male bird more than 
half of the flock, and for that reason I should be careful to 
have him as good as possible. I want a cockerel to weigh 
seven and one-half pounds or a cock eight and one-half 
pounds, and I prefer a half pound less rather than that 
much more. As a rule, heavier than standard birds are less 
shapely. He should be of a square, blocky build, with legs 
well set apart; a broad breast, full and round; a broad back. 




Under the Beak, Throat. 



Still Lower. 



Lower Breast. 



Down between the Thighs. 



BREAST FEATHERS OF SILVER WYANDOTTE COCKEREL, 

Owned by Henry Steiumesch. 



early reverses than we are by our successes. I have been 
fairly successful with Silver Wyandottes, having had them 
for thirteen years. I have made mistakes and do not pre- 
tend to know it all now, but I do know that, if I were to 
start over again, I should start nearer right than I did thir- 
teen years ago. I should start with one breed, and that 
breed would be the Silver Wyandotte. 

I should try to get the best with which to make a start. 
If my means were limited I should be satisfied with a pair, 
but I would rather have a trio, If I had plenty of money I 
should buy a pen of one male and five or six females. I 



short and flat at the shoulders, and a medium sized tail well 
spread. The comb should be medium, curving to the shape 
of the neck, coming to a spike point, and all well serrated. 

Next I look for color. I want a breast well laced, and the 
centers must be white and clear, and must extend from un- 
der the beak down to between the thighs— note illustration. 
Right here, however, we are liable to have trouble unless 
we see to it that the lacing is free from frosty edging, which 
is a grayish tinge on the outside of the black lacing. This 
frosty edging is a serious fault, and the last standard very 
wisely instructs a cut of not less than one point in each 

37 







SILVER LACED WYANDOTTES TO DATE. 

As Bred by Mr. Henry Steinmesch. 



88 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



39 



section where it appears. If the breast is free from this 
blemish in the male bird it is not likely to show up in any 
other section. 

The wing of a Silver Wyandotte is one of its strongest 
points. A really good wing is hard to find. The white in 
the flights and secondaries is usually good, but the black is 
too often mottled. 1 want the wing bows silvery white and 
the upper web of the coverts black, the lower web white 
with a narrow stripe along the edge which widens as it ap- 
proaches the tip, forming a double bar of laced feathers 
across the wing. I have given a great deal of space to the 
male bird, as I consider him the foundation of any strain, 
and I believe that the most of our improvement in the Sil- 
ver Wyandotte must come through that source. 

On the female side I want full standard weight, five and 
one-half pounds for pullets and six and one-half pounds for 
hf-ns. They must be broad and full in the breast with a 
broad back that is very slightly cushioned. The breast 
must be well laced with good sized, open centers. As a rule 
there is very little trouble in getting pullets very good in 
this respect, but unless well bred, this lacing, after the first 
molt, will become faint and will fail to go all around the 
feather. This trouble invariably crops out where the under- 
color is gray or white. I should be careful to use only fe- 
males that were good in dark slate under-color, and should 
also prefer to have the fluff slate color, although not neces- 
sarily as dark as in the breast. I want the back of a pullet 
to show centers as white as those in the breast and the lac- 
ing must be as clear. With this, however, I must have dark 
under-color, and I .should rather use a female with smaller 
centers and good under-color than one with large open cen- 
ters and light under-color. In this view I am going against 
some of the theorists, but I know that light under-colored 
females will not wear and the big open centers, unless 
backed up by dark slate color, are only for to-day. 

I want the ear-lobes red and the eyes bright bay. The 



standard allows some white in ear-lobes and also permits 
eyes other than bright bay, yet by a little care we can breed 
these sections as they should be. 

While it is a pleasure to note the good points of our 
birds, yet we should not overlook the poor ones, and it is a 
good general rule to avoid mating birds where both the male 
and female are weak in the same sections. Two poor combs 
are not going to produce one good comb. Two pairs of pearl 
or blue eyes will not produce one pair of good, bright, bay 
eyes. On the contrary, such matings will bring forth worse 
combs and. poorer eyes. If, however, one or the other is 
good in comb and eye, then we may look for an improve- 
ment, especially if the bird possessing these good points is 
the stronger and more vigorous of the two. 

With the advantage that the Silver Wyandotte has, of 
beauty and general usefulness combined, it is bound to be- 
come more popular from year to year. It is to-day the fore- 
most all-purpose fowl in England, and there is no reason 
wliy it should not be in this country. They are as easy to 
breed as any other fowl, notwithstanding parti-color. While 
discussion is deep and earnest as to the proper shade of buff 
or the color of Barred Rocks, the pencilings of this breed or 
that, the Silver Wyandotte fanciers are working in harmony, 
knowing that where they want white, they want white, and 
where they want black, they do not want any other color. 

In conclusion I offer another suggestion, and it is. try 
to retain the identity of the young stock. If you are so sit- 
uated that you cannot do this with all your birds, do it with 
part of them. If you succeed in raising some extra good 
birds it is worth the trouble to know the parent stock. 
Know what kind of matings will produce the good ones and 
on the other hand do away with the matings that produced 
the poor ones. In this way we can soon establish a strain of 
birds that will breed true to name and which will be uni- 
form. This after all is decidedly preferable to producing 
extremes — part very good, part very poor — the latter as a 
rule predominating. 



SINGLE OR STANDARD MATING. 




"ACH season, in all breeds and varieties of fancy 
poultry, there are a number of faulty specimens 
thrown from the best matings. It should be and 
is the aim of every thorough fancier and breeder 
to eradicate the faults from his or her flock, and 
in order to do so it requires a knowledge of the breed 
and variety he or she is breeding. Nor is that all. It 
requires study, the careful selection of the breeding stock 
and watchful attention to the young, if we would succeed. 
I shall give in the following my method of mating Silver 
Wyandottes. 

In them we have the oldest and one of the best of the 
Wyandotte family, a bird that is fit for both farmer and 
fancier. As a utility fowl it is the equal of any, and as a 
bird on which the fancier can exercise his knowledge and 
science of breeding, it is unexcelled. 

While ihe Silvers are not so hard to breed to standard 
requirements as some think, still there are a few bad fea- 
tures that one must get out of one's strain before he can 
hope for much success. In the male birds, splashy breasts 
and brassy or smutty backs must be avoided. In the female 
we musi fight against smutty or mossy backs and white on 
the edge of the feathers. I mention the above named faults 
in particular, as they have been the hardest things for me 
to contend with successfully. I have learned many things 
about the Silvers, the past ten or twelve years, from exper- 
ience. 

In the selection of a breeding pen of Silver Wyandottes, 
from which I expected both cockerels and pullets ( and that 
is the only way I mate them), I should select the best shaped 
birds with the best markings I could find. The females 



should be well laced on the breast, back, wings and fluff, 
and the black must be of a good quality. The feathers must 
be free from outside edging of white and black spots or moss 
in the centers of the feathers. The lacing should be sharply 
defined and the co'ors clear. I want well-balanced speci- 
mens, not those that are extra good in some points and very 
poor in others, but birds that would receive about the same 
proportionate discount in each color section. To these 
females I should mate a well-shaped cockerel or cock, a 
good-sized, broad-backed, blocky fellow, with a fine comb 
not too large or coarse, good eyes, clear neck, good wings, 
good wing bars, good clear back nicely edged with clear 
white and with a small white center in the feathers. The 
breast ought to have a clear white center in each feather, 
which should be free from white on the edge. The centers 
in the breast feathers should not be so large as those in the 
feathers of the female. The under-color of the male must 
be good throughout, and the tail must be a greenish black 
and well spread. The defects found in the females should 
be offset as nearly as possible by good points in the male. 
By the selection of the best birds from such a mating as 
breeders, season after season, and by not introducing too 
much new blood, the result would be a large per cent of 
finely marked birds. 

I think the demand for number one Silver Wyandottes 
is increasing. I have always found a ready sale for first- 
class birds during the past eight years. I have shown my 
birds throughout the central and southern parts of the 
United States, winning many premiums, and I have never 
been defeated on cockerel but twice. 

K. S. TRIMBLE. 



BREEDING SILVER WYANDOTTES. 



A Successful Breeder Tells How He Drifted into Standard-breds^How His Business Crew until the 
Demand Exceeded the Supply and Writes Interestingly on the Single and Double 

Mating of Silver Wyandottes. 



BY A. C. LEDUC. 




HAVE always had a liking for chicl^ens. I can re- 
member when I was a boy about six years old I 
used to feed the little chicks for my mother, and 
it was my greatest delight to be with them. We 
raised lots of fowls of every imaginable color, 
size and shape, except standard-breds; of these we had 
none. In those days we knew nothing of fancy polutry. 
Whenever mother saw a rooster at a neighbor's that was 
different from any she had she would trade for him if she 
possibly could; therefore we always had plenty of roosters 




A Group of Line-bred Wyandottes, bred and owned by Mr. LeDuc 



on the place. In the fall when the young birds were well 
matured we sold the surplus stock. We would go out at 
night and I would catch the roosters and hand them to 
mother. She would pass on them whether they should go 
to market or be retained as breeders. Every rooster that was 
different from the rest or possessed any peculiar markings 
or shape, she would keep for a breeder, and these were al- 
ways in the majority. We always caught our chickens after 
dark, for they roosted high up in the trees and were good 
flyers. Mother never sold any hens. She said, "The hens 
lay eggs and we must keep them;" but I am sure she had 
some hens that didn't lay eggs, for they were so old they 
had passed their period of usefulness long before. All they 
would do was sit and this they did everywhere and at all 
times. When I came home from the fields and put my horses 
in the barn there would be old hens sitting in all the feed 
boxes, and I was sometimes prompted to take them by the 
neck, give them a few vigorous shakes, and with my blessing 
fire them out the back door, only to find them back in the 
feed boxes shortly afterwards. The only approach to stand- 
ard-breds was when mother got some roosters from a friend 
some miles away. They were called Shanghais, and they 
somewhat resembled Light Brahmas. 

■10 



Well, when I got married and started housekeeping my 
mother gave me twelve hens and four roosters, one goose, 
two ganders, one duck and two drakes. I bought two dozen 
more hens, but raised few chicks the first season, and those 
were mongrels. It was at this time that I saw the advertise- 
ment of the Reliable Incubator and Brooder Company in a 
local paper. I sent for their catalogue and in it I saw that 
they recommended the Reliable Poultry Journal. That was 
six years ago and was the first time I knew there was such 
a thing as a poultry journal in existence. I sent for a copy 
and at once got a severe case of chicken 
fever and enough information to give 
me a good start. I felt that I must 
have standard-bred fowls, but it was 
hard for me to decide what breed. I 
liked Barred Plymouth Rocks and took 
quite a fancy also to the Silver Wyan- 
dottes. I finally concluded to try both. 
I bought a trio of Barred Plymouth 
Rocks from E. B. Thompson, also a 
pair from Sid Conger, and a trio of 
Silver Wyandottes from Henry Stein- 
mesch. I learned all that I could possi- 
bly scare up that was of interest to 
nie and soon concluded that my stock 
was not the best in the world, though 
I firmly made up my mind that I must 
have the best. It was about this time 
that Mrs. Hanly was doing some good 
winning with her Silver Wyandottes 
and I went to her place and bought 
the best pen she had; I also bought the best 
cockerel that Mr. Gossard had, and secured, too, a 
few other birds, the best I could find. It does not matter 
what price I paid. I didn't stop to consider price so long 
as I could get quality, and I now see that I did a wise thing. 
I bred the Barred Plymouth Rocks and Silver Wyandottes 
for two years and then decided that the Wyandottes were 
much the better breed. I also made up my mind that al- 
though I had a farm of 200 acres for my fowls to roam over, 
no farm was large enough for two breeds; so I dropped the 
Rocks. By that time I had enough good Wyandottes to 
show and make a winning and so do some business, for I 
knew that I could do but little business without a show record. 
My first showing was at the Illinois State Show held at 
Bloomington, January, 1901. where I ran up against what 
Theo. Hewes said was the strongest class of Silver Wyan- 
dottes ever shown in the state, and I am proud to say I 
came out with flying colors, winning about half the best 
prizes. Since then my birds have won at the largest shows 
all over the country — at the late Chicago show winning four- 
teen prizes on fourteen entries. I find the Silver Wyandottes 
good sellers. I have never had enough stock or eggs to sup- 
ply the demand. 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



41 



Mating Silver Wyandottes. 

Probably the most important point connected with the 
breeding of Silver Wyandottes is the mating. I have given 
this subject the closest study and attention, and believe that 
some breeders are making ridiculous mistakes in mating 
their yards and thereby are ruining this noble breed as fast 
as they can. This may seem rather strong language, but 
follow me and I will explain why I say it. In the first place 
I am an advocate of the single or standard-mating. This is 
the only right way to breed Wyandottes or any other breed 
for that matter. The double mating plan will only breed dis- 
appointment; not so much in your own yards as in the 
yards of your customers. It will be understood that by the 
term "double mating" is meant a mating for cockerels from 
which one does not expect to get good pullets, and another 
mating for pullets from which one does not expect good 
cockerels. By the term "single mating" is meant the mat- 
ing of a yard of birds of standard color, shape and size from 
which the breeder expects to get both cockerels and pullets 
of good quality. The single or standard mating is the 
breeding in one line of one line of blood; the double mating 
is the breeding in two lines of two separate lines of blood, 
one for breeding males and the other for breeding females. 
These lines are not crossed because when you cross the male 
line with the female line you will get neither good cockerels 
nor good pullets, as the opposing influences of the two lines 
of blood are too great, and are just the opposite of each 
other. Consequently you get culls, with possibly a chance 
good bird, which in" turn cannot be depended upon as a 
breeder. I do not claim that we cannot produce just as good 
birds by the double mating plan as by the single mating; I 
believe we can. but we must look beyond that and consider 
the future. 

Allow me to state a little experience I had a few years 
ago, and remember this is not theory, but fact. I bought a 
Silver Wyandotte cockerel of a double mating breeder. He 
was the best all-round cockerel of his breed that I had seen, 
a very strong bird in nearly every section. I also bought 
several of the best pullets that breeder had. I mated the 
cockerel to the two best pullets, and put six of my best fe- 
males in the same yard. The young chicks were a sad dis- 
appointment. Every pullet was as mossy on the back as a 
Dark Brahma, and the cockerels were no better, with the 
exception of two that were fairly good birds. I wrote the 
breeder from whom I bought the cockerel, stating that I 
did not get a single good pullet from the cockerel. In reply 
I received the following: "I never could breed a good cock- 
erel from clear backed females. Probably your mossy pul- 
lets will be the best of cockerel breeders." Now here we 
have the whole thing in a nutshell. That cockerel was un- 
doubtedly bred from a mossy female on the double mating 
order, and his chicks could be expected to be no better than 
they w^ere. Another breeder writes: "You can't produce 
good clear pullets from a dark under-colored male bird." 
Another says he uses a smutty backed cockerel to produce 
good pullets. Needless to say there are others that use still 
.".lore ridiculous matings. 



The only right way to mate Silver Wyandottes is to get 
both male and female as near standard requirements in all 
sections as it is possible to get them; then mate them that 
way and breed in line and they will reproduce themselves. 
You will get a few birds each year even a little better than 
their parents and this will enable you to get nearer each 
year to the one hundred point mark. 

Why do so many take up the breeding of Silver Wyan- 
dottes, breed them for several years, make no success and 
finally give them up as a bad job? Let me relate to you a 
case that came to my notice. It will explain why. A young 
man wished to breed Silver Wyandottes. He was deter- 
mined to have the best and was willing to pay for them. He 
sent for a trio of fine birds, paid a big price for them and 
they were indeed fine specimens. He bred them and got a 
lot of culls— none were as good as their parents. He could 
not account for it and was sadly disappointed. Investiga- 
tion showed that they were from a double mating strain, 
the cockerel from a cockerel mating and the pullets from a 
pullet mating; and, as I have stated, those two lines bred 
together will breed disappointment. This young man bought 
another cockerel the next season, a very fine specimen, and 
mated him with the pullets from the first season's mating. 
The result was no better, so he gave them up for a bad job. 
I could tell you of other similar cases, but space does not 
permit. How often have I received letters from breeders 
stating that they have bought a trio or pen of very fine 
birds from Mr. So and So, but they did not produce any good 
birds. Then they ask if I know why. How often have we 
seen old breeders state in the papers that if one mates a 
ninety-three point cockerel to a ninety-three point pullet, 
none of the chicks will be as good as their parent. That is 
especially true of Barred Rock breeders. Why should it be 
so? I say if these ninety-three point birds are bred right 
and mated right they will reproduce themselves without 
fail; but if the cockerel is bred from a standard male to a 
cull female, as the double mating breeders do, and if this 
ninety-three point pullet is bred from a standard female 
mated to a cull male, or the two in turn mated together, 
there will be produced culls without fail. It stands to rea- 
son and there is no getting around it. 

There are a few breeders of Silver Wyandottes who are 
breeding them right, and these few have the same object in 
view— the improvement of the breed— and they have made 
wonderful improvement. They are slowly breeding out 
mossy backs and frosty breasts and are bringing out the 
pure, sharply defined black and white Sebright lacing, and 
they have perfected the laced wingbars. These breeders are 
culling closely, keeping the pedigree of every bird, and are 
breeding in line. They have saved the breed, and to them 
is due the credit of the wonderful improvement that has 
been made during the past few years. 

My purpose in writing this is to bring breeders nearer 
together so that we may have a better understanding of 
how to improve the breed. There is yet room for improve- 
ment, and the Silver Wyandotte possesses enough sterling 
qualities to demand our most earnest efforts in bringing 
them forward to the place where they belong. 



ENGLISH WYANDOTTES IN AMERICA. 



How Some English Birds Were Handled by the Importer to Produce Good Results— Faults and Virtues 

of the English Silvers. 



BY p. H. GOSSARD. 




ELATING my experience in importing and 
breeding tlie Englisli Silvers, will be tbe best 
way in which I can give a clear and concise 
view of chem from my standpoint. My atten- 
tion was first called to their merits as bred in 
England, by an article which appeared in the 
Reliable Poultry Journal. This contribution was from a 
fancier whom I knew to be truthful and through his influ- 
ence I was led to import three pullets and one cockerel. 

These birds arrived here March 28, 1898, having been 
sixteen days making the journey. They came in fairly good 
condition, excepting that they were nearly famished for 
water, due, in my opinion, to carelessness upon the part of 
the express messengers in this country. I am informed that 
birds making the ocean voyage unaccompanied are shipped 
in stock vessels and have the best of care and attention. 
All charges, such as feed, .attendant and ocean carriage, are 
prepaid by the shipper, but from New York or Boston they 
come collect on delivery. Should I import again I should 
do so in October or November for the following reasons: 
The English hatching .season is about six weeks earlier than 
ours and the birds are mature by October. Consequently 
they would become acclimated and ready for business the 
following spring. The first clutch of eggs laid by my hens 
did not hatch well, due, no doubt, to the change of climate 
and food. 

My first impression of this stock was a mixture of sur- 
prise and regret. I was surprised at their wonderful lacing, 
which was far better than I had expected to see. It seemed 
to me no artist's brush could improve upon what nature had 
done for these birds, but, alas, no matter how much we ad- 
mire nice lacing there are other attributes of the Wyandotte 
family which are essential and which were entirely lacking 
in this cockerel. Aside from his plumage no fancier could 
tell to what breed he belonged. The females, however, more 
nearly represented Wyandotte shape as bred here. 

At a glance I knew they would be a failure if bred as 
imported, so the English cockerel was mated to domestic 
females and a native cockerel to the English females. 
The result was a success. Do not understand me to say 
every chick hatched was a prize winner. Far from it. Dis- 
qualifications cropped out thick and fast. Many pure white 
chicks were hatched. About ten per cent came with single 
combs and a like number with feathered legs, but there were 
enough good ones to amply repay me for my trouble and ex- 
pense. Right here let me say for the benefit of those 
expecting to import, I would put all my money in either 
males or females, but I would not get both. You cannot 
hope to succeed here breeding the English Silvers pure. It 
would be an useless expenditure, unless you have money to 
"throw at the birds," and want to breed both ways as I did. 
My preference would be for females. However, this is only 
a matter of opinion. 

I am convinced the English lose sight of everything but 

lacing and in order to get this they make some very radical 

m;ttings. I have often been asked the question, "What 

blood do you think they use to produce their Silvers?" My 

42 



answer is, "Light Brahma." The feathered legs and white 
birds indicate this to me, also the very large size and shape. 
I had cockerels which weighed in November over nine 
pounds, and I could trace in a few of them Light Brahma 
shape. 

The cockerels breed less true to the American standard 
than do the pullets. The more noticeable defects are poor 
hackle, saddle and under-color. The hackle and saddle lack 
the distinct black stripe in the center of the feather. The 
surface color may be good, but it is more apt to look smutty, 
Where we find the black stripe in the hackle of domestic 
males the English have a clouded appearance. I should 
compare it to a Barred Plymouth Rock with indistinct bar- 
ring — the white and black mingle. The under-color of the 
English birds is too light. 

You ask how I would mate this English stock for best 
results? To produce exhibition females I would select a 
native male or female of typical shape and breed to the 
opposite sex of English stock. This cross ought to and will 
greatly improve our Silvers. If a native male is bred to 
English females do not use a black breasted male. Some 
breeders advise this, but do not listen to them. We are 
striving to produce open laced birds. How, I ask, can we 
hope to succeed without having the white somewhere from 
which to draw? My experience has been such that when I 
want good pullets I use a light male every time. 

How would I produce up-to-date standard males? Well, 
there you have me. I do not know. It is a hit or miss 
game. I am in the experimental stage now, but I have 
learned nothing definite as yet. I am inclined to the opin- 
ion, however, that we will have to practice single matings 
and then we may fail. Too much white is required to pro- 
duce the open laced breast, fluff and shank, not to have 
it appear in under-color of hackle and saddle. So far as I 
am concerned I should like to breed standard birds, but if I 
cannot then I prefer to take my chances in the show room 
with a male bird having almost perfect lacing on wing, 
breast, fluff and thigh, though he be faulty as I have indi- 
cated. Why am I so particular to detail the faults of English 
stock? Well, we h^ar so much lately about English Silvers 
that many an American may be induced to give up hard 
earned money for this stock, expecting to get something 
like "the picture on the wall." For this reason I dwell upon 
their faults as I find them. On the other hand. I find many 
virtues and I would not be without this blood for twice what 
it cost me — about $150. With good horse sense and a little 
head work one ought in three years to have them breed 
uniformly good birds, having eliminated most of the dis- 
qualifications that first came. I have thus far been able to 
retain the English or Sebright lacing and I have improved 
their shape. 

What is nicer than a well laced Silver Wyandotte? I 
have a certain pullet in mind now. Take her in your hands; 
examine her closely. Notice what grand centers on wing, 
back and cushion. See the lustrous black lacing. Is she 
not a "thing of beauty and a joy forever?" Who would not 
work three years to produce such a bird? 



WYANDOTTES IN ENGLAND. 



Winners at the Greatest English Poultry Show— English Standard for Wyandottes — Reported by a 

Prominent American Poultry Judge. 



BY SHARPS BUTTERFIEI.D. 




SPENT quite a little time among the Silvers, for 
they were a great surprise to me. I wish to 
say that the English are a long way ahead of us 
in Silver cocks. Wyandotte cocks, Golden or 
Silver, numbered ten, all the winners being Sil- 
vers. The Wyandottes were judged by the Rev. Mr. Com- 
berholme, Clayton, LeMoors, Lancashire, a celebrated 
breeder of Silver Wyandottes, who won first, second and 
third at the Dairy Show in October on Silver Wyandotte 
cockerel. He judged them satisfactorily to every one. 

First prize cock was a very large bird, not as good shape 
as we would like, but the breast, fluff and thighs were more 
perfect in lacing than we ever saw on a Silver Sebright, but 
much heavier than Sebright lacing, just as much heavier as 
the proportionate sizes of the two breeds. And it was strong 
enough in black so that it showed quite a greenish lustre. 
He was not so good in neck, hackle and saddle as our best 
American birds, but his breast! You could scarcely look at 
any other part of the bird. It was far beyond any Wyan- 
dotte breeder's dreams. Second cock was a grand shaped 
Wyandotte with grand comb and much better in neck and 
saddle. Though very even right up to the beak in lacing, 
there was not strength enough in the black to give any lus- 
tre or sheen. Third was another grand one, just as perfect 
nearly as the first prize cock, but it was not so 
large. In fact, there was only one breast such as we are 
used to seeing in our country, and of course he helped won- 
derfully in the class to show the contrast between the good 
ones and the middling ones. 

There were six hens, first going to Mr. T. C. Heath. I 
asked him to take her out of the coop to let me examine 
her, and though it was against the rules he obliged me. She 
WHS clear in every center all over and was just heavy 
enough in lacing so that you could see every feather's clean, 
white center, and the lacing went out as clean and distinct 
to the end of her fluff and right under her body and down 
her thighs to the hock joints. She was grand in flights, 
good in neck, and larger in size than we often see. Second 
was very large in centers, but lacing was not quite so even. 
Third was not through the molt and her legs were quite pale 
yellow and she was a little frosted on breast, but really had 
a grand wing and cushion. The whole six hens were fine. 

In cockerels the Silvers did not compete with' the Gol- 
dens. Twenty Silver cockerels faced the judge, and first and 
cup went to T. C. Heath, also the second. The cup winner 
was the bird I spoke of in my last. One could not wish for a 
more evenly laced breast. It ran up to the beak and down 
to the end of the fluff, and down his thighs right to the 
hock. He had nicely laced bars. Hackle and saddle not so 
good as one would wish, but he had grand flights. Second 
was also fine in breast color, but a little too dark in neck 
and saddle. Third, nice neck, neat comb, fairly good breast, 
nice wing. Ten of the cockerels had grandly marked 
lireasts. 

The pullets numbered nineteen. First, cup and second 
stood just as they did at the Dairy, when Mr. Heath sold the 
second prize pullet for $!)() and gave $12.5 to own her again. 



Third is a little darker than the two preceding, but is a 
right good pullet. The marking being heavier spoils the 
openness and clearness of her markings and easily places 
her behind the other two. If she had been as large as the 
other two pullets she would have looked more open and it 
would have been a hard tussle. You could easily say there 
were ten out of the nineteen that were really good pullets. 
You could scarcely see any of the white frosting on the 
edge of the feathers which is so prevalent with us, espec- 
ially when we get the clean, white centers — and very often 
when we do not get the large, clean centers, the frosting is 
very visible. The English breeders deserve great credit for 
their Silver Wyandottes. They set out with the birds they 
got from America to make them have open, clear, large cen- 
ters, and they succeeded. 

One of the wrongs that kept the Americans back was 
the standard requirement demanding spangle bars, for I am 
sure it is impossible to breed grandly laced birds from birds 
that have any spangling blood about them. I hope the new 
standard requirements will be in accordance with the laws 
of nature, and then the Americans will soon have a much 
better and surer way of breeding grand Silver Wyandottes 
than heretofore. [Note— The new standard has done away 
with the spangle bars.— Ed.] The spangled bars have been a 
great curse and have discouraged many a Wyandotte 
breeder who has quit in disgust because good ones never 
came to him who used cocks such as the standard required. 
I do not want your readers to be led away by some saying, 
"0, Silver Sebright lacing— we don't want it." The English 
birds are much heavier laced than any Sebright ever was. It 
is just heavy enough to keep a fancier looking and looking, 
and every look fills you with pleasure, just as a beautiful 
picture does. 

As to price, Mr. Spencer told me that at the show he had 
refused £25 ($125) for the second prize cock. I heard the 
Silver and Golden Wyandotte breeders talking more pounds 
for a good bird than we talk dollars. 

English Standard for Wyandottes. 

So that your readers can see the Wyandotte Club stand- 
ard I herev.'ith give you a copy, revised by the Wyandotte 
Club, 1S94: Male, comb eight points, rose, prim and even 
on the head, full of fine work, low and square at front, taper- 
ing towards the spike which should follow the curve of the 
neck. Head, five points, short, and head plumage silvery 
white; face, bright red; beak, horn color shading into or 
tipped with yellow; eyes, bright bay. Ear-lobes and wattles, 
eight points, bright red. medium length, fine in texture. 
Neck, six points, well arched with full hackle, plumage sil- 
very white with clear black stripe through center. Breast, 
fourteen points, full and round; plumage, wel) white with 
deep black lacing from throat to back of thighs showing 
green lustre; under-color dark slate. Keel bone straight. 
Back, fourteen points, broad and short, color silver white 
frne from yellow or straw color; saddle full and broad, ris- 
ing with concave sweep to tail: hackle plumage same as 
neck. Tail, seven points, well developed, spread at base, 
true tail feathers carried rather upright, sickles of medium 
length, true tail feathers, sickles and coverts black, showing 
green lustre. Wings, twelve points, medium size, nicely 
folded to the side; wing bow silvery white, shoulder tops 



43 



44 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



laced with black, coverts heavily laced, forming at least two 
well defined bars; secondaries black on inner and wide white 
lacing on outer web; primaries, or flights, black on inner 
and broadly laced with white on outer edge. Fluff, six 
points full and abundant, black or dark slate, powdered with 
grey. Legs, six points, thighs of medium length well cov- 
ered with soft webless feathers, color black or dark slate 
powdered with grey; shanks medium length, strong but fine 
in bone, color bright yellow; toes straight, well spread, color 
same as shanks. General characteristics — symmetry, size 
and condition resembling a Brahma. Carriage very graceful 
and well balanced. Adults eight and one-half pounds, cock- 
erels seven pounds. 

Females: Comb eight points, same as male excepting 
size. Head five points, same as male excepting size. Ear- 
lobes and wattles eight points same as male. Neck six 
points, medium length, short, full hackle, color same as male. 




PRIZE-WINNING SILVKR LACIiD WVANDOTTES, AS BRED AND E.XHI 

(Sketched from Ufe.) 

Breast fourteen points, full and round. Plumage— under-color 
dark slate; web of feather white, with deep regular black 
lacing showing green lustre. Keel bone straight. Back four- 
teen points, short and wide at shoulder; color and lacing 
same as breast. Tail seven points, well spread at base, color 
black, showing green lustre, coverts black with white cen- 
ters. Wings twelve points, medium size, nicely folded to 
the side, color and lacing same as breast; secondaries and 
primaries same as male. Fluff six points, same as male. 
Legs six points, same as male. General characteristics same 
as male. Hens six and a half pounds. Pullets five pounds. 

The points of Golden Laced Wyandottes are the same as 
the Silver Laced, substituting for the silver a rich golden 
ground color. They have made such great strides that in 
Huffs and thighs they will have it read, "Centers on the fluff 
like breast, and on thighs continuing the lacing to the hock 
joint." 

Please note serious defects for which birds should be 
passed or left out. Males and females: Any feathers on 
shanks or toes; permanent white or yellow in the ear-lobes, 
covering more than one-third of their surface; comos other 
than rose, or falling over ou one side, or so large as to ob- 



struct the sight: wry tails; deformed beaks, crooked backs: 
shanks other than yellow in color, except cocks and hens, 
which may shade to light straw-color; feathers other than 
white in any part of the plumage in the white variety, and 
white in tail or any conspicuous spotting or peppering on 
ground of feathers in Silvers or Goldens. Disqualifications: 
Any fraudulent drawing of feathers, dyeing, dressing or 
trimming. 

Golden Wyandottes are in still greater favor than the 
Silvers. Thirty-six cockerels on exhibition. They follow 
their ideas as to breast marking, and one could never breed 
nor see more evenly laced breasts, the lacing going out to 
the end of the fluff and down to the hock joint. About the 
only fault they find is that they cannot get them yet with 
good striped neck hackle and saddle, though the first prize 
cockerel was fairly well striped. The ground color or edg- 
ing on hackle and saddle is too yellow, a fault we often see 

in America. Thirty-six cock- 
erels competing in one class 
show in how much favor they 
are held in England. 

There were thirty-two Gol- 
den pullets shown. The first 
prize pullet was grand, rich 
in ground color, one of the 
highest types of golden bay. 
She was not as evenly laced 
as the Silvers and was not as 
well laced as some we see on 
our side of the water, still 
she would rank pretty high 
on our side. Second was not 
so brilliant in bottom color, 
but very uniform in ground 
color, and I think a little bet- 
ter laced than first prize bird. 
Third was a rather small pul- 
let, probably the evenest in 
lacing, but she was not so 
sound in bottom color as the 
other two and not clear 
enough in bars and wing end. 
Balance of class were pretty 
good had the three winners 
been away. 

The seven White Wyan- 
dotte cocks or cockerels (they 
competed together) were not 
as good as we find at the New 
York show, where -all the 
giants meet. First and cup 
was a very nice shaped bird 
but serrations on comb were 
very large and not so nice 
a shaped comb as one would 
wish; still I thought him 
the best of his class to 
take him all in all. Hens 
or pullets, fifteen in number. 
First, a nice white White Wy- 
andotte hen with a grand Wy- 
andotte head and very good 
comb. She will look better when her tail is more developed. 
She was hardly through the molt. Second, a very good 
shaped hen with nice color. We noticed quite a little down 
between her toes, but that does not disqualify in England, 
though i.t is a serious objection. I think we in America have 
been too severe in disqualifying for this fault, as often much 
inferior birds in every particular have had to win over those 
which happened to have down that it would almost take a 
microscope to find. Third, good shape and color, but not 
quite as fit as the other two placed over her. 

"Any other variety of Wyandottes" takes in the Buff, 
Cuckoo or those like the Barred Plymouth Rock, Partridge 
and Buff Laced. They made an entry of twenty-one cocks 
or cockerels. First went to a very nice Buff; second to tlie 
Cuckoo; third. Buff, a very sound tailed bird, but he was 
quite narrow in body shape. Hens or pullets, twenty in 
number. First, a very nice, even Buff pullet, very sound in 
color. Second, a Buff laced pullet which was really a grand 
shaped Wyandotte. The breast lacing was not so perfect as 
in the other parts of her body. Third was of a very nice, 
even buff color. Wyandottes make quite a show when 200 
of them are at one exhibition. 



BITED IN ENGLANU. 18%. 




KEUflBlt 
POULTRY 

Journal- 

CoPYRKiMTlD 
■ IS99 



GOLDEN WYANDOTTES. 

By SEWELL. 

In characteristics, shape, standard requirements and plumage the Golden Wyandottes are similar to the Silver Wyandotfes, (see page 34), 
except that where the ground color of the Silvers is white, in the Goldens it is golden bay. The improvement in the 
Golden Wyandottes during the past few years has been most pronounced, some breeders of the variety show- 
ing specimens so fine that they can almost be compared with the work of a first class artist 
with a brush. They are worthy of their name, "The Beauty Breed." 



46 




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THE GOLDEN WYANDOTTES. 



A Beautifully Marked Variety — Superior for Table Purfmses—Good Layers — Their Origin— Standard Re- 
quirements — Feathers — Reproduction of Feathers from Live Specimens, with Comments 
Thereon — How to Mate to Produce Standard Colored Birds — Introducing New Blood. ' 



BY IRA C. KELLER, PROSPECT, OHIO. 




Goldens. 



N WRITING of one of America's most beautiful 
productions in poultry, it is not our intention to 
go into a lengthy account of its origin, for most 
of the breeders of to-day are familiar with the 
sifbject. There are a number of families of the 
The most successful was the Winnebago strain, 
originated by the late Joseph McKeen, whose name will live 
in the history of this variety of fowls. 

In 18S0 Mr. McKeen crossed the Winnebago fowl with 
the Silver Wyandotte to produce the Golden. He crossed 
and recrossed the offspring with the Silver until there was 
but one-fourth of the Winnebago blood remaining. So the 
Golden Wyandotte of to-day has but one-fourth to one- 
eighth of the Winnebago blood left. The Winnebago fowl 
was a large black-red bird, somewhat the shape of the Wy- 
andotte, with rose comb, red lobes and yellow legs. The 
plumage of the male was much the same as that of the 
Partridge Cochin, while the hen resembled the Malay Game 
hen. Other strains were made by using the larger Wyan- 
dotte as the foundation, crossing with Partridge Cochins, 
Golden Hamburgs or Brown Leghorns for the desired end. 
As soon as the McKeen Goldens were put upon the market 
the owners of the other crosses soon learned that their birds 
were inferior. They drew blood from the fountain head, 
so to speak, and continued to cross the large Winnebago 
strain, until now the different types do not vary to a great 
extent. 

Our experience in breeding them dates back to 1882, and 
we have watched the different strains with much interest. 
The crossing with the Silver Wyandotte gave the Golden 
nev.- blood and vigor. It is a hardy fowl, with flesh of the 
fineft quality, probably not equaled by any other fowl except 
the Indian Game. Its skin is as yellow as gold. As an all- 
the-year-round layer, it has few equals and not many super- 
iors. As to the number of eggs laid during the year, we 
have personally known of egg contests where the Golden 
Wyandotte excelled the Plymouth Rock. Not only have we 
made this lest, but we know of other breeders who have put 
flocks of the two breeds under the same treatment ond con- 
ditions and got the same results as we did. A breeder in the 
south recently wrote to us that his Golden Wyandottes» had 
outlayed his Brown Leghorns under like conditions. 

Claims to Utility, as Well as Beauty. 

It has been claimed by their admirers that the Golden 
Wyandotte is one of America's greatest general purpose 
fowls. Add to their usefulness their beauty, and you have 
an ideal fowl. Where can be found a fowl that carries so 
beautiful a plumage upon so useful a form? The female has 
a deep, rich golden color with almost every feather richly 
laced with black; while in the male, the color runs from 
rich gold to a peacock green, nearly as brilliant as the latter. 
This combination of fancy plumage on a Wyandotte form 
produces an ideal fowl. The Wyandotte shape is strictly its 
own, no other fowl having a shape like it. The broad, full, 



round breast, the broad back, the deep body, the short, 
wide-spread tail, and short legs with heavy thighs combine 
to make the Wyandotte a meaty fowl throughout. We know 
of but one breed that carries so much breast meat. 

We said fourteen years ago that in due time the Golden 
Wyandotte would become popular the world over. We had 
shipped them to ten different foreign countries. To-day 
they are popular in Europe as well as in this country— in 
fact, are bred nearly the world over, and there are more of 
them being sent abroad now than ever before. In England 
the Wyandotte is one of the most popular breeds. 
Different Varieties of Wyandottes. 

The Wyandotte breed is divided into a number uf sub- 
varieties, the Silver and Golden Laced, Buff Laced, Violette 
Laced, White, Black, Buff, Golden and Silver Penciled and 
Columbian. So if one admires the Wyandotte form he can 
suit his taste as to color. How many of these different colors 
will stand and become popular we are not able to say. Some 
may go to the wall. We sometimes think the Wyandotte 
should have been bred as a laced fowl, and we think it 
would have been better for the breed, as the original was 
laced. However, there is room for them all. The more va- 
rieties, the more breeders; the more breeders, the more and 
better poultry shows, more and better poultry journals and 
more trade in general. The Golden variety furnished tho 
foundation for the Violette Laced, Buff Laced, Buff and 
Partridge or Golden Penciled, as it is called. 

The Wyandotte does well and yields good returns under 
good care, in close confinement or with free range. The 
Golden variety is well adapted to the city breeder, for it does 
not show the dirt or soot so much as its lighter cousins. 
Though it does well in confinement, it, however, likes free 
range, as does all poultry. I think I never saw a fowl that, 
if given his liberty, would range so far away as the Golden. 
It is not an uncommon thing for them to range nearly one- 
half mile away from their sleeping quarters in search of 
insects. We all know that the more a fowl ranges, the bet- 
ter it does. They mature and feather rapidly and are ready 
for the table at an early age. 

Pleasure in Breeding for Fancy Points. 

The Goldens are an interesting and fascinating variety 
to breed, as there are so many fancy points to breed for. 
Anyone who breeds laced fowls knows what he has to look 
after to make a success of it. The careful and watchful 
breeder never feeds his chicks that he does not notice their 
progress in growth and the new plumage appearing. He 
will note the laced wing coverts of the little cockerels; will 
watch the first lacing to see whether the gold color is good. 
Then the rich color and striping of the neck and back ap- 
pear. He keeps close watch on the breast to see the beauti- 
ful lacings coming. They appear at three weeks old to three 
months, and improve till the bird is eight to ten months old. 
When a breeder sees one of his cockerels developing a nice, 
clean striped neck and back, with correct wing and a well 



48 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



laced wing bar, with breast of large open center lacing to 
suit his eye, a good form and good head points, he will 
watch that youngster with intense interest. He will give 
him every care, and the following winter the bird will be 
heard of in the show room. 

He watches the development of the pullets with the 
same interest. First the lacing appears upon the wing 
shoulders, then the lacing that forms the wing bars next 
appears, while he awaits with more interest the lacing of 
the back and cushion. If this comes clear laced, free from 
mossing, he knows that he has a promising bird. A clear 
laced back usually carries good lacing on the wings. Next 
he notes the lacing of the breast, and keeps a close watch 
of the breast and cushion, for these two sections are apt to 




nflj°n 8'*) 

nnsT IT 

IRn C KtatR _ 
PR?SPtrr 0H» 



THE BEAUTY BREED — GOLDEN WYANDOTTE MALE. 

get poorer. The cushion is liable to become mossy, and the 
lacing of the breast is liable to grow weaker. If all sections 
hold good and improve until the chick is eight months old 
and the bird has the proper lacing of the right sized centers, 
with the correct, deep, rich, golden bay color, good form and 
head points, she will be a winner. 

There is more interest in producing the correct lacing 
upon the different varieties of the Laced Wyandotte than 
upon the Sebright or Polish, for the two latter varieties have 
been bred so many years that one rarely sees a specimen 
that is not well laced. Not so in the Wyandotte. It contin- 
ually throws a good per cent of pullets that are not prime in 
lacing. Some have mossing, while others show weak lacing 
of breast. The Golden has always been a profitable fowl for 
the fancier. Good specimens have been in heavy demand — 
in fact, the demand at good prices has been in excess of the 
supply. It is no uncommon thing for a fancy Golden Wyan- 



dotte to sell all the way from $5 to $100, and large numbers 
exchange hands at good prices each year. 

THE MALE. 

We next lake up the male and shall endeavor to clearly 
indicate the faults and the good points as they now exist in 
this variety of beautiful and prolific standard-bred fowl. 
There is something very attractive about the Golden Wyan- 
dotte male. In him we have the beautiful, compact form 
and the strength and sprightliness of a medium-weight fowl. 
They are not as slow of motion nor as sluggish as the heavy 
Asiatic. A ten-pound Wyandotte male is active, steps 
lightly, is very proud of his bearing. His crow is not shrill 
like that of a Leghorn, nor dull and heavy like that of a 
Brahma or Cochin, but has a rich, full, 
mellow tone that is pleasing to the ear. 
It is a sound good for a man to hear 
when he awakes at early morn. It 
speaks to him of health, strength, vig- 
or, and seems to say, "It is time the 
work of to-day was under way." 
Shape of Male. 
All breeders of standard poultry 
rightly consider shape to be one of the 
most important points, as serving the 
utility value of the breed or variety 
and adding much to the beauty of it. A 
Wyandotte male perfect in shape Is not 
often seen, and the same is naturally 
true of all other varieties. Perfection 
is a very difficult thing to attain. The 
Golden Wyandotte is rapidly improv- 
ing in shape, and to-day a person may 
see a goodly number that approach 
perfection in shape. 

There is a diversity of opinion 
-- among breeders as to the correct Wy- 
andotte shape. Notice the cut of 
"Major Sth," a Golden Wyandotte 
The shape of this male is good. He 
stands for a general type that pleases 
the writer, with some exceptions. The 
comb is a little low, is too flat upon 
the head and is a trifle wide, although, 
as the drawing shows, this comb is 
really a good one. The head is also 
good; it is short, with the required 
broad skull, not long, narrow and 
"snaky" in appearance. The eye is 
bright. The wattles are of medium 
length and well rounded. The neck 
is not long and scantily feathered, but is of medium length, 
is well arched, showing vigor, and is abundantly feathered. 
This male bird, as shown in the etching, is good in back 
shape, a section that is often faulty by being too narrow 
and too straight from center of back to tail. Notice partic- 
ularly in the drawing the broad, strong back and the full 
concave sweep to tail. 

The breast of this bird shows up full, broad, round and 
is carried well down — a valuable utility feature of the bird, 
for the meat is there. Avoid, in your breeding birds, flat- 
ness and narrowness in breast, both in males and females. 

The tail is one of the most beautiful sections of a Wyan- 
dotte. It should be only of medium length, V-shaped, with 
abundant coverts and lesser sickles. The Wyandotte tail 
should not be pinched and flat, as frequently seen, but well 
spread apart and reasonably full. This section has been 
hard to produce and control in the Golden Wyandottes, and 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



49 



too few of our breeders have given close enough attention 
to it. It does not matter how good a bird is in other re- 
spects, if it carries a poor tail. This detracts greatly from 
his beauty. 

The body of the Wyandotte male should be of medium 
length and abundantly feathered. The thighs should be 
strong and well meated; shanks straight, stout, of medium 
length and set well apart — the width of your hand. 

Plumage of Male. 
We present herewith two half-tone engravings, show- 
ing photographic reproductions of actual feathers plucked 
from two exhibition Golden Wyandotte males, prize winners 



Feather No. 1 on this plate, a hackle feather, shows 
what I call a laced feather, somewhat like that of the Polish. 
The inside center follows evenly on either side of the shaft 
and stops at the right place, that is, does not extend through 
the black lacing. This gives us a far more beautiful feather 
than the standard description (see Plate II) and every 
breeder of experience knows that he cannot produce the 
large, open centers on the females by using males of the 
style of neck hackle shown on Plate II. Laced Wyandottes, 
with Golden and Silver, have a tendency toward the laced 
neck, and to-day some strains produce a neck plumage 
nearer like Plate I than like Plate II. The Standard of 
Perfection should be changed in this section so as to allow 




Plate II— Showing Photographic Reproduction of Feathers Plucked from a 2-Year-Oid Golden Wyandotte G)ck. 



at the great New York show. The feathers demonstrate 
what has been produced in this variety on single specimens. 
They are not presented as perfect feathers, though some 
of them are practically so. They were reduced in size about 
two-fifths by the artist, and while the engravings of feath- 
ers are the best we have seen to date, they do not do the 
originals full justice. A lustrous, greenish black and a 
soft golden bay make a combination that is extremely diffi- 
cult to photograph, and still harder to represent in plain 
black and white. In these feather plates the gold centers 
and lacing do not show up as clear cut and even as in the 
originals, but they will do very well in illustrating our 
meaning and in showing the progress that has been made. 

Plate I shows eleven feathers from a Golden Wyandotte 
cockerel. These feathers are pretty near our ideal, though 
not quite standard. Note the perfect striping and perfect 
lacing of these feathers, also the bright clearness of the out- 
side lacing of the hackle, back and saddle feathers. Note 
also the perfect evenness of the under-color of all these 
feathers. 



for this center inside of the striping. A number of breeders 
have bred for this for several years. They know that they 
can not produce standard-laced females if they use the solid 
striping in neck and back of the male. 

Next let it be observed that the bird from which the 
feathers shown in Plate I were plucked was laced in all sec- 
tions. Feathers No. 2 were taken from the upper and lower 
breast. These are nearly perfect. The centers are not quite 
perfectly carried, with reference to the shape of the feath- 
ers, but such feathers the breeders call good. No. 3 is a 
wing covert that forms the wing bar. This feather is full 
laced. The Golden Wyandotte, ever since its origin, has had 
a tendency toward breeding these laced wing coverts, and 
rightly, for this is one of the main sections in controlling 
lacing. A spangled bar has the tendency to throw (that is, 
to breed) spangles, or spangling in the females. Note care- 
fully the laced bar of the male presented on page 52. The 
more even we can have the feathers that form this bar, the 
better. 

Feather No. 4 is from the shoulder, and is practically 



50 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



perfect. Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are back and saddle feathers. 
These may be pronounced perfect, according to our stand- 
ard. The camera has not brought out clearly the striping 
of these feathers. The stripes in Nos. 6, 7, and 8 end at the 
proper place, with the gold edging extending entirely around 
the stripe at the points of the feathers, and the inside center 
—what the standard calls a diamond— runs down in the 
striping to a needle point, so fine the naked eye can hardly 
see it, and the same with the black striping. The engrav- 
ings cannot be expected to bring these fine lines out in their 
natural distinctness. 

I ask breeders of this variety to note particularly feather 
No. 8. This is one of the last feathers of the side, what I 
call a lower side hanger. Look your cockerels over to see 
how many feathers you can find like this one, showing equal 




<^ 



eitlSolIKlD' ^" 

IRfl CKKLfJ" ■ 
GOLDEN WYANDOTTE PULLET "FASHION," A PRIZE WINNER AT NEW YORK 

striping. You will find large numbers with scarcely any 
striping on these lower feathers. Many breeders never 
think of this lower striping. I have called attention to it 
many times. Even most of our judges overlook it. These 
feathers, when striped, add great beauty to the bird, and 
belong to the saddle, which the standard requires to be 
striped. 

No. 9 shows a very pretty feather selected from the 
fluff. No. 10 is one of the bird's tail coverts. These tail 
coverts are usually black, but the reader will observe that 
this one is laced. Such feathers add beauty to the bird, and 
a male that carries well-laced tail coverts will transmit, to 
a degree, this lacing to the coverts of the female, an impor- 
tant section, while if the male's tail coverts are solid black 
you may expect very small centers, or none at all. on the 
female. 

As I said before, Plate I represents my ideal plum- 
age for a Golden Wyandotte male, both in lacing and as 



showing a breeding bird of the kind that will produce fe- 
males (either Golden or Silver) with open centers all over; 
also males with elegant striping and breasts well laced, hav- 
ing large centers. The standard of 1893 made a wonderful 
step forward when it called for a lighter colored Wyandotte, 
that is, a narrower laced one. The "black crows," as we 
would now call them, were once considered to be good, but 
the tendency toward open centers and lighter colored birds 
has been present ever since I first knew anything about the 
Goldens, or their Silver cousins. When it is the natural 
tendency of a breed or variety to become more beautiful, 
certainly the standard should be changed to accord with it. 
Plate II shows six feathers selected from a cock bird two 
years old. Note the evenness of the under-color in all sec- 
tions. Feather No. 1 is from the neck. This feather is very 
^ evenly striped, but the striping is carried 

too far down through the golden edging, 
otherwise it is perfect. No. 2 is taken from 
the saddle or back and is a perfect feather. 
Observe the striping and the center of this 
feather. No. 3 is a shoulder covert, clear in 
color, not of a black or smoky color. No. 5 is 
taken from the center of the breast. This 
feather is not as good as it should be. The 
center is too straight and small, and is not 
true with respect to the shape of the feather. 
No. 6 is a wing covert, forming the bar. The 
lacing of the feather is not true enough and 
breaks over the shaft. No. 4 is selected from 
the fluff and is, in our estimation, a perfect 
feather. It adds much to the beauty of the 
fowl, and every breeder who knows his busi- 
ness wants the fluff and legs well laced. 

The laced Wyandottes still have some 
faults as to fancy points, but the last five 
years have witnessed a greater improvement 
in them than was expected. The best breed- 
ers of them have made great progress. The 
old-time smuttiness of neck, hackle and sad- 
dle feathers is not now seen so often; they 
are much cleaner, in fact, one may now see 
many specimens at our shows with almost 
perfect necks. 

Golden males are now often seen whose 
breasts are laced from the throat down past 
the thighs, in fact, such birds are now com- 
paratively easy to produce. Very few now 
come with spangling on the lower breast, 
unless mated too light. 

The comb is to-day probably the most 
faulty section on Wyandottes, although there has been a 
rapid and marked improvement here. In your matings 
avoid a too large and too broad comb, and have the combs of 
males and females as even and shapely as possible. 

However, the male Wyandotte has been wonderfully im- 
proved, especially in shape, in gold color and in lacings. 
We now see far fewer smutty necks, the right depth of gold 
color has been reached in both sexes, white in ear-lobes has 
almost entirely disappeared, and stubs on the shanks — 
which were very common in the variety's early history — 
are seldom seen now. 

It is astonishing what careful, systematic and intelli- 
gent breeding will accomplish in the course of ten years. 
Let those who can recollect the crude specimens of only 
thirteen years ago, place them, in the mind's eye, alongside 
of the best specimens of the breed as they exist to-day. and 
ponder on ,ind take new courage from the wonderful con- 
trast. It is indeed a fascinating work. 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



51 



GOLDEN WYANDOTTE FEMALES. 

It is difficult for one to say wliich is the more beautiful, 
the male or female Golden Wyandotte, as both possess great 
beauty. Certainly one can find beauty enough in the female 
to satisfy the eye of the most ardent fancier. She has a 
shape differing from that of any other breed of fowl. 

Her head should be short, deep and medium broad, 
with bay eyes, red ear-lobes, wattles of medium length and a 
rose comb that is low, of medium width, curving with the 
shape of the head and terminating with a neat, small spike. 
The neck should be broad and full, of medium length and 
well arched. The back should be short with a gentle rise 
and cushion. We like to see the breast quite full, broad, 
deep, well-rounded, and the keel bone carried well down 



bay centers, laced with a rich greenish-black. The lacing 
varies greatly, and a person often sees breeders who use 
birds with the small centers, the feathers on the back only 
shafted or striped with bay, showing no lacing at all. The 
breeder who has persevered in breeding for open centers has 
been well paid. It is nature, for ever since I have known 
the laced Wyandotte I have found that its tendency is to 
breed to larger centers. 

There was a "dark-bird" fad some years ago, and most 
people wanted a dark Wyandotte. As a result a great injury 
was done to the breed. This affected the Silvers more than 
it did the Goldens. Some people still want them dark. One 
of our old judges claims that the dark birds are the best. 

The trouble lies here: Some six years ago the standard 




Plate III— Showing Seven Excellent Feathers Plucked from a Grand Golden Wyandotte Hen. 



between the legs. Thighs should be short, stout and well 
meated. Body and fluff well developed. Tail, short, well 
spread like the letter V and carried a little upward. 

Here we have an almost ideal fowl in shape, for utility 
as well as for beauty. The Golden Wyandotte has been 
known to lay as many as 200 eggs in a year, and this from 
a breed that carries a weight of from six to eight pounds 
for the female, and eight K) ten pounds for the male, with a 
quantity of flesh that but few breeds equal, fairly enti- 
tles them to rank high as a general purpose fowl. The pul- 
lets develop quickly and begin to lay at an early age. 

Plumage of Female. 

She has a style of plumage that is hard to produce in 
correct color and markings, like that of several other parti- 
colored fowls. The standard Golden hen or pullet of to-day 
is very attractive to the eye, with her large, open, golden 



first called for a lighter Wyandotte and it has now become a 
general demand. Some of the breeders were slow to "catch 
on" and got left. To change a breed or variety, from dark 
to light in lacing, can not be done in a year or two. The 
breeders who have always been breeding for medium cen- 
ters, and have, of late years, increased or enlarged them, 
have reaped a rich harvest. 

Every loving fancier of the Wyandotte prefers the open 
lacing, as shown on the hen Fashion, presented on page 50 
(See also her feathers in Plate III.) This hen had no moss- 
ing and was full laced all over. Mr. Sewell's sketch of her 
is quite good. Her shape was not the best. Her tail should 
be carried a little higher, her cushion should be more abun- 
dant, and the breast should be more full. Her comb is 
straight, where it should curve with shape of head. Other- 
wise I like her. 

The plumage of this grand hen is shown in Plate III. 




3 

a. 



^ 



o 

It 
_o 
■3 

s 



t?i 



u. 



■SI 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



53 



These feathers were plucked when she was two years old. 
The engraver has reduced the size of the feathers about one- 
third. 

Feather No. 1 is a hackle, nearly perfect. No. 2 is taken 
from the breast and is good enough. Nos. 3 and 4 are from 
the wing. These are excellent, though at the end of feather 
No. 4 you will note it does not carry the shape of the center 
as well as does No. 3, it is a little too pointed. No. 5 is a 
back feather taken from between the shoulders. This is 
good. No. 6 is a cushion feather. In lacing, shape of feather 
and center I call No. G perfect. No. 7 is a cushion or lesser 
tail covert. Note how perfeol this center is. It may be 
seen that this center is perfectly clear. .\lso note the deep, 
uniform under-color shown in all these sections. 

The lacing ot this hen is carried well back in the Huff 
and the greater part of the fluff is laced, a valuable point in 
a breeder. A hen with so uniformly good plumage is not 
often seen. Pullets are now often produced with this uni- 
form and open lacing, but comparatively few of them molt 
in as clear laced hens. They usually come out of the molt 
with clear breasts and wings, but seldom with a clear back 
and cushion. If clear in cushion the breast lacing has prob- 
ably run out. 

We next take up Plate IV. Here we have ten feathers 
selected from a pullet with a very narrow lacing. All these 
feathers are from the one bird. Of course they are not all 
perfect. The size of these has also been reduced about one- 
third or a little more. The reader will notice that the width 
of these lacings is quite uniform in all sections, and I know 
you will agree with me that this looks much better than 
would be the case were the centers only one-half as large. 
Feather No. 1 is a hackle feather. It is very good, but has the 
inside center, like that described in the male, page 49. Here 
is what I like, and I know from experience that this kind of 
lower hackle feathers are extremely necessary to produce 
pullets with plumage like that shown in Plate IV. I 
should like the standard to allow these inside centers. They 
may be either large or small, just so the outside black stripe 
is sharp, clean cut and black, and the golden edging is clear 
as in the plate, where you will note the stripe ends at the 
proper place. There is no outside gold edging on this pullet. 

Feather No. 2 is a lower breast feather, and No. 3 an 
upper breast feather, near the throat. No. 3 is perfect, while 
in No. 2 the center is a little more an the side of shaft than 
on the other. Nos. 5, 6 and 7 are from the wings. These are 
perfect, or what we would call such. The color of the lacing 
is an intense greenish-black, with no edging, no mossing. 
No. 7 is from the fore part of the wing. No. 5 is from the 
center, and No. C is from the second row that forms the two 
bars. With centers of this size or larger, one will find that 
each center on the bird shows to splendid advantage, and 
the two rows of bars will be distinctly seen. With this size 
centers one sees about three-fifths of gold or white, and two- 
fiflhs of black. 

No. 8 is taken .rom the back, between the shoulders, and 
is a good one. still it is not quite perfect. No. 9 is a real 
gem. How could it be better? Here is a good feather to 
carry in one's eye. It is really a "gold standard." No. 10 is 
a tail covert, and very good, still the center at the end 
should be carried farther down and conform with the shape 
of the end of the feather. 

In this female we have the happy medium, each section 
the same in depth of lacing, which makes the bird look uni- 
form in all sections. Here we have a Wyandotte of surpass- 
ing beauty. Put this plumage on a fairly perfect form and 
you have a bird that will win in very fast company, one 
that is worthy of the name, the Beauty Breed. 

I wish to speak here of lacing more particularly than of 



the shape. I hope some day to be able to produce these cen- 
ters with the ends broader, more like our best Sebrights. 
The centers are now too sharp in both the Golden and Silver 
Wyandottes. We have these broad centers in the Buff Laced 
Wyandottes. 

Note again Feather No. 2 in Plate IV. If the sharp 
point to this feather were not there and the outside lacing 
were not so heavy at the end, but were as narrow as the 
side lacing, would it not be pretty? These large, round-end 
centers can be produced. We know one Silver Wyandotte 
breeder who has accomplished it, and the lacings on the 
wings does not overlap so much, but looks more like rings. 
While our best show pullets look like perfect birds, indeed 
they are not yet near perfect. There is still a vast amount 
ol room for improvement. 

How I wish they bred as true as the Sebiights! Tliiuk 
of the Wyandotte being scored at present as high as the best 
Sebrights: They are all scored too high. I do not believe 
there is a Sebright in America that will honestly score over 
95 points. 

The greatest fault of the laced Wyandotte is the mossing 
of the centers. This is very hard to work out. A pullet may 
be free from mossing her first year, but when she is two 
years old she may not have a clear center on her. But not 
many do as poorly as this. They usually molt in with at 
least a clear breast and clear wings. It is slow work breed- 
ing this defect out, but Lime will work wonders. 

The hens that show the clearest centers should always 
be kept as breeders. Spangling has disappeared fast, combs 
have been greatly improved, and so has the shape of the 
female. The type does not now vary so much. Especially 
in the Golden this short, blocky shape was seldom seen a 
few years ago. The Golden formerly was longer in body, 
had more length of leg, and was a larger and coarser fowl 
than the Silver, but to-day one sees Goldens with the true 
Wyandotte shape, and we see a great many more of them 
each year. 

MATING GOLDEN WYANDOTTES. 

The art of breeding is a great study and an intensely 
interesting one. While one gains much from experience — 
which is really the best teacher — still the amateur gets 
many points from reading that it would take him years to 
learn from experience, though perhaps the teachings of the 
latter are less easily forgotten. I may say that what I know 
about Golden Wyandottes I have learned chiefly from expe- 
rience; but I realize that could some one have told me 
twelve years ago exactly how to mate, I should have made 
a great deal more money. I am in the poultry business, like 
most others, for what I get out of it, and I find it as profita- 
ble as many other lines of business. Fancy poultry can be 
made to pay, and pay well, and I know of no better paying 
varieties than the Wyandottes. Like other breeds, they 
must be well mated to produce best results, and no good 
birds need be expected from poor matings. Stock that has 
been well mated and bred in line for a number of years, 
though not of the highest grade, will, if properly mated, pro- 
duce a good per cent of very fancy birds. Blood will tell, 
and will show its good qualities as well as bad. On the 
other hpnd, an excellent mating of carelessly bred stock 
can not be depended on to reproduce itself. Too many per- 
sons in the poultry business think they must introduce new 
blood from a different strain each year, and so go backward 
instead of forward, because nearly every breeder's birds dif- 
fer some in type and plumage. When these different types 
are crossed some of the offspring resemble the male, some 
the female, and some resemble neither. Then such breeders 
generally get a male from another type to mate with the 



54 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



pullets of the several types, and the next season they have 
nothing good, scarcely any two chicks resembling each 
other. This is my advice: If you get what you want from 
a reliable breeder who has a well established strain, and 
who breeds large numbers, buy your new blood p£ him. He 
probably understands breeding much better than you and he 
does not inbreed enough to injure his stock. If he is hon- 
est he will not furnish you stock that is too closely related. 
I would not give a cent for a specimen for breeding pur- 
poses, no matter how fine it is, if it had not been inbred. 



Color. 

There are many points in breeding Golden Wyandottes 
to be consiilered. First, I will speak of color. I find that 
most of the Golden Wyandotte breeders do not understand 
what golden bay means. Some think it is a light shade of 
gold, others think it a chestnut or red. It is a color hard to 
describe. If you should take an eighteen karat gold and mix 
red with it, you would get the color, though of course it 
would all depend on how much red you added. Golden bay, 
as I understand it, is a dark rich gold, but not bay. We see 




■^=^:;jL OniO BOY 151 \mtKU" 

.. '- FiteT rftizEs /\Tcti)Cft(i°io2?- 

BRED AMD Ow^ED gy -^ 

IRA CKELLE-fi' 

PROSPECT. OHIO- 



PRIZE-WINNING GOLDEN WYANDOTTES. 
First Cock at Chicago and New York, 1819. First Pullet at New York, 1898 ami First Hen at Chicago, 1899. 



for it will seldom reproduce itself. Inbreeding is a great fac- 
tor in the success of the fancier of poultry, horses, cattle, 
hogs or sheep. The height of perfection can not be reached 
without inbreeding. The type of inbred stock will be easily 
seen in its get. If you see a nice flock of birds that closely 
resemble each other, ask the breeder if he inbreeds, and he 
will tell you that he does. I do not advocate inbreeding 
Golden Wyandottes closer than, say, first cousins. Some 
breeds will stand more and closer inbreeding than others, 
but never, it possible to avoid it, breed a male and female 
that have the same faults. 



bay in its perfection in the horse family. Most of the Golden 
Wyandottes that judges usually call prime in color are too 
dark a gold or bay, or too red. And here I might say that if 
judges paid enough attention to color in this breed they 
would nor. score so high. I have often noticed them scoring. 
There will be. for instance, a row of ten cockerels 
the saddles of which are clear and well striped, but 
each of a different shade of gold. Seldom will one be 
cut for color, while usually there is but one in the 
class that should be pronounced perfect in the color of that 
section. 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



55 



To Produce Proper Color and Markings. 

If your females are too red or bay, you should use a 
male that has a light, even, rich gold color. This will 
lighten the color in the offspring. But never try to produce 
the desired change of color in one season, for you can not 
establish a medium color from two extremes in one cross. 
The deep red or chestnut color of the breed is more deeply 
seated in the male than in the female. And these deep col- 
ors are necessary to keep up a good golden bay. 

If the males are too red, select those females that have 
the light, mellow gold color and a golden bay male, or if you 
have not such use a male of the red color. This will produce 
pullets approaching near the golden bay. Mate these pul- 
lets to a deep, rich, golden bay male and you should get the 
proper shade of color in a few specimens at least. 

In breeding for open centers of cushion you will lose the 
depth of breast lacing of the female. To produce these 
large centers select your females that have them and select 
a male that has a strong, well-laced breast with not too 
large centers, with the plumage in neck, back, wing and 
saddle like that shown in cockerel plumage in Plate No. I. 
Such a mating should produce a fair per cent of pullets with 
good sized centers all over, and nice, very open-laced cock- 
erels, tn producing a good, strongly laced male use cock- 
erels from above mating on fairly heavily laced females. 
If the females are too open, so as to grow quite weak in 
breast, use a male that is quite as strongly marked as plum- 
age of cock in Plate No. II. Some of the pullets will be 
quite well laced all over of a rather heavy nature. Thes3, 
if mated to a male with plumage like that of cockerel in 
Pl.ite No. I, will produce some pullets up to the standard re- 
quirements in lacing, and from this mating you will get a 
good per cent of standard marked cockerels. 

To produce pullets with clear, open centers all over, a 
fair per cent of which will not molt into clear-centered hens, 
i:se a male with plumage in each section like cockerel plum- 
age in Plate No. I, and keep it up year after year and you 
will accomplish it. Remember by breeding Wyandottes 
heavily laced you do not get clear-centered hens. You must 
breed open-centered pullets to molt into clear-laced hens. 
You have many sections to look after and improve in both 
male and female. If you have a bird that has one or two 
sections quite perfect and is fairly good in other sections, 
use it, and you will stamp your stock. It is best to always 
select the males for breeding that have the best average 
plumage, color, shape and comb. Then mate to females of 
the proper width of lacing. One, to be successful with the 
breed, should be prepared to make many matings, for if you 



have ten females you wish to mate with a male, it is not 
likely that over two to four will mate with him well. You 
would better only mate one or two properly than the whole 
ten improperly. You will have much better birds at the 
end of the season. If they are not well mated you can not 
get very many good chicks. It is hard to get of any fancy 
breed a dozen females to match a male exactly. Some think 
small matings are vei'y expensive, but I assure you, if 
mated right they pay. 

I should advise breeders to pay more attention to thigh 
and leg lacing. Have them well laced, as they are one of 
the most beautiful sections. Breed from them. I like to see 
the lacing commence at the throat and run past the thighs 
without a break. We have produced lacing on a male's legs 
every center of which was nearly a quarter of an inch wide, 
and fluff or thigh lacing seven-eighths of an inch wide. On 
females we have had it half an inch wide. 

Bear in mind that the richer the gold of the shafts of 
both male and female, the better and prettier will be the 
dark slate under-color, which m'ay be mixed with gold or 
buff. This is another very important point in breeding. 

Look after the wing bar of the male to see whether it is 
well laced. It should be, for it plays a very important part 
in the lacing of the female. If the secondaries of both male 
and female are well laced, so much the better. Produce all 
the fiuff lacing you can on both sexes, just so the lacing is 
black. A laced fiuff is much prettier than one powdered with 
gold and black. We produce many specimens in which 
nearly every feather of the thighs is laced clear down to the 
shanks. Look at the tail filling, I call it, the feathers that 
fill in between the tail behind. If these be laced, so much 
the better. The more the short tail coverts of the male are 
laced the better, especially the lower ones, for these play an 
important part in producing the large open tail coverts of 
the pullets. Try to produce all the plumage of the breed 
laced, except the male tail feathers, the sickles, hangers, and 
the fluffy portion of the rear part of the fowl. This lacing 
can be produced as I have said and shown. It is not theory, 
as we have accomplished it. We have produced lacing of the 
fluff of both sexes in goodly numbers to almost the size of 
the breast lacing. I may say here that I have devoted almost 
my entire time for over thirteen years to this fowl and I 
have accomplished a great deal in the way of improvements 
in all sections. Breeding will accomplish wonders. It is my 
aim to help others to produce better Wyandottes and more 
of them, to create more breeders and to bring the different 
types closer together. I wish to say here again that by pro- 
ducing a bird with lacing in all sections we will have a fowl 
approached by none in beauty. IRA C. KELLER. 



THE BEAUTY BREED. 



The Qualities that Should be Found in Line-bred Stock to Produce Exhibition Specimens. 



BY FRED G. MASON, SUCCESSOR TO H. D. MASOX & SONS. 




ORTUNATELY. while ihe breeding of high- 
class exhibition Golden Wyandottes is a sci- 
ence that requires thought and study, at the 
same time it is both pleasant and profitable. 
As a variety they have been before the public 
for about twelve years and are fast gaining in popular- 
ity. The American fancy has had the extreme dark and 
also has been threatened with the extreme light or Sebright 
Golden Wyandottes, but has settled down to a medium col- 
ored Golden Wyandotte, as now described in the American 
Standard of Perfection. We have bred the Golden Wyan- 
dottes as a specialty since their first introduction, and have 
found them to be great layers and grand for table use, be- 
sides being the most handsome fowl in existence. 

We are strong advocates of line breeding and have prac- 
ticed the same for many years. We produce both males and 
females from the same mating and believe it to be the only 
correct way to establish a reliable strain. In selecting your 
breeding stock, first consider the qualities that should be 
found in all Wyandottes, namely, good Wyandotte shape, 
yellow legs, good size, bay eyes, and a good comb. Form an 
opinion as to the relative values of the qualities found in 
your Golden Wyandottes and seek each year to breed out 
the most serious defect, with as many of the remaining 
defects as possible You may think it advisable to sacrifice 
a little in comb, or size, or perhaps a little in shape in a few 
specimens, in order to stamp in your stock something fine 
in feather markings, which the others do not possess. If 
your stock reaches standard weight at maturity without the 
aid of surplus fat, be content and do not seek to add to their 
size, as it will rob them to a great extent of two of the most 
important qualities that should characterize the Wyandotte, 
namely, egg production and early maturity. If your stock is 
undersized and you wish to retain them on account of fine 
feather markings, do not try to remedy the defect in size in 
one season by procuring an extra large male, but try to 
accomplish the desired end in two or three matings. 

In females choose those that are as near to standard 
requirements as possible. Aim to have the golden center in 
each feather from one-half to two-thirds of the width of 
each feather, and also to conform to the shape of the web of 
the feather. The widest centered feathers should be found 
on the breast, and gradiially decrease in width as they 
approach the tail. Strive to have the lacing on the end of 
each feather no wider than on the side. In selecting your 
male see that he is not defective in body under-color. 
Remember the wing bar and have it well laced, as It plays 
an important part in the production of fine pullets. Have 
the centers of the feathers that form the wing bar or wing 
coverts of a deep bay color with a lacing of glossy black. In 
the saddle feathers have the inside center of each feather of 
a deep golden bay, laced with black, the whole to be fringed 
with golden bay. In the hackle we prefer a golden shaft 
dividing the black center in equal parts, the same to be 
fringed with golden bay. The center of each feather in a 

S6 



male's breast should not be over two-thirds of its width, and 
even a little less than one-half of the width of the feather if 
you are troubled to confine the golden centers in the female's 
breast. Strive to have each feather from throat to thighs 
with a golden bay center, the same to be laced with lustrous 
black and sharply defined. We prefer tail-coverts with rich 
golden bay centers of about one-half their width, also gol- 
den shafts to the sickle feathers and a golden bay center in 
thigh feathers of not more than one-half their width. 

If you wish to deepen the color of the centers in the 
females, use a male that has deeper color, as he has grea'er 
power to transmit color than the female. It has been our 
experience that the deeper the color of the centers the easier 
it is to hold the lacing. Do not use a bird with white in the 
tail, as that is a defect that should have long ago disap- 
peared. And if a bird shows white in wings, do not use him 
unless he be excellent in most sections, and poor in none. 
Learn to discriminate between natural white and white 
caused by accident or injury. A large percentage of the 
white found in wings is caused by an injury to the feathers 
in their earlv growth, and especially is this so of the white 
occasionally found on the wing tips. 

He who thinks of breeding fancy fowls, either for pleas- 
ure or profit, or both, will make no mistake in selecting the 
Golden Wyandottes. Try to obtain stock from a breeder 
who has a good reputation, one whose birds have many gen- 
erations of ancestors of the same blood line to hold and 
transmit the qualities that they possess. Remember that the 
degree of excellence that the line bred Golden Wyandotte 
may attain is largely due to feed and care. If you do not 
feel able to start with fowls, you can buy eggs and soon have 
a flock of fowls that will be greatly admired by your friends 
and neighbors, and cause you to be a life-long friend and 
champion of the "Beauty Breed." 



[Note — Mr. Mason is a strong believer in medium cen- 
ters on both males and females, and his stock shows that he 
produces this type of bird in both sexes to a marked degree. 
He has had the best training along these lines from his 
father, the late Mr. H. D. Mason, who, during his life, was 
one of the best posted Golden Wyandotte breeders in Amer- 
ica. Mr. Mason advocates safe ground for an amateur to 
follow, and even the old heads, who speculate too far on 
extremes in color, are only too glad to get this conservative 
blood to put them back in line. Golden Wyandotte breeders 
have some advantages over breeders of the Silver variety, as 
the golden color is not so much affected by the sun. The 
Golden Wyandotte breeder has advantage also in that he can 
produce good males and females from the same yard. Mr. 
H. D. Mason showed the writer cockerels and pullets that 
were full brothers and sisters and they all possessed the cor- 
re'-t shape and color markings to qualify them for show 
birds. The strong points of the parents were equally repre- 
sented in both males and females. The same mingling of 
color in the Silver variety would show cockerels not so well 
marked as the Goldens, while the pullets would be stronger. 
We call the reader's attention to this, as each breed or va- 
riety has its own peculiarities in mating and there is much 
to be learned. — Editor.] 




•ttUflULC 'POULTRY' JOW«N At, ""■ -^ ^6* "^ r^- 



WHITE WYANDOTTES— By sewell. 



Characteristics, sliape and standard requirements are substantially the same as those given for the Silvers except that the color of this 

variety is pure white. See color-plate frontispiece. 



BREED of fowls of recent origin stands 
higher iu the commercial world than does the 
<J33^ While Wyandotte. Its reputation is not re- 
rw-ul striated to America, but wherever this fowl 
has been bred to any extent, it is recognized 
as the middle weight fowl par excellence for 
tabic use. To this quality is added their remarkable egg- 
producing ability. Under special circumstances a pen of this 
breed has yielded 210 eggs per bird in one year. 

Aside from their commercial value they are the fancy 
fowl which has a greater number of admirers than any other 
solid color variety in the American standard. Their 
handsome white plumage, fine symmetrical outliiles well- 
developed breasts and thighs, low rose combs and blocky 
build develop the amateur who breeds them into a fancier. 
They attract a great many from the outside world to our 
ever-growing army of poultry enthusiasts. This breed of 
fowls will in time be recognized as the Plymouth Rock's 
greatest rival in every section of the country. The Ameri- 
can fancier may well feel proud that its origin is strictly 
American. 

White Wyandotte Shape. 

The shape of this variety is the same as that outlined in 



charts 1 and 2. As you will remember, the female used as a 
model for chart No. 2 was in reality a White Wyandotte, a 
winner in the Boston show of 1898. By referring to the 
chart and the description of the same in the discussion of 
the silver variety, you will get all the information that is 
necessary along this line, and I am sure any one who reads 
understandingly will be able to make a better selection of 
his breeding stock. 

In many parts of the country there will be found birds 
of this variety that look shorter on their legs than the 
standard requires and they are often cut by the judges for 
this apparent defect. If you have a specimen of this kind 
in your yard, make a careful measurement of this section. 
You will find, as a rule, that your eye has misled you. I 
have found that White Wyandottes, especially the females, 
have longer plumage around the thighs and fluff than the 
other varieties of Wyandottes have and for this reason the 
birds look a trifle squatty or short on their legs. These ap- 
parently short-legged birds have, ^s a rule, short backs and 
deep breasts, and are. in fact, the very birds you want to 
breed. Do not understand me as favoring a duck leg on a 
Wyandotte. I want the shank long enough to meet the 
requirements of the standard as illustrated in the chart, but 



58 



THE VVYANDOTTES. 



I caution you to look carefully for the long plumage and sec 
if the bird is in reality as short-legged as it appears. 

In this variety as well as the other varieties of the Wy- 
andotte, look well to the shape of the back, for without a 
good back you can absolutely make no progress toward per- 
fecting a strain. If the back is good you invariably get 
other good points which go a long way toward making an 

ideal fowl. 

Color of White Wyandottes. 

The new standard is very severe on the color question 
and breeders of this variety will have to be very careful in 
the selection of breeding stock if they expect to pass muster 
in the show room. Any flecking on a feather will be con- 
sidered a serious defect, and if shown on more than one 
feather it disqualifies the specimen. Breeders are spending 
lots of thought trying to discover how to breed "stay white" 
birds. Some are trying different kinds of food, others keep 
the birds in the shade and still others advocate sunshine. 
The fact of the matter is, if you have the color in the blood 
it is going to crop out some time, and the only way I know 
to get rid of it is to breed it out. A breeder with a lot of 
work and patience can get any bird in show color — so can 
any woman change the color of her hair, but it is only an 
artificial color and it will fade. What we want in a white 
fowl is absolutely white plumage, not yellow or cream, but 
pui-e white. It is true that we have only started on color 
breeding and the faker who has learned the art of changing 
colors has a big advantage over the honest man who has 
only nature to help him, but the latter will win in the long 
run and he will be honored as the trickster can never hope to 
be. 

To successfully breed any of the white varieties and 
place them on exhibition free from sunburn or yellowish 
cast, is a big undertaking. We find just such specimens 
every v/inter at our western shows and they are bred that 
way and have not been artificially bleached into show con- 
dition. The per cent of these pure white birds is small, we 
admit; but there are enough of them to show what can be 
done and to furnish material with which to work. Breeders 
should feel encouraged and should strive still harder. In 
the west we do not know when to get a bird's record or 
when to keep it out of the show room. There is more or 
less yellow in the new feathers of our very whitest birds. 
This yellow will show for a time, or in fact, as long as the 
quill is used to fuinish the matter to make the feather. This 
is what we term the immature life of the feather and the 
i;peeimen is not in shape to show when its plumage is in this 
condition. If a specimen is white before molting, it will be 
white after the molt. All you have to do is to give them 
time to "color down," as we put it. Sunburn or copper color 
is a serious defect in a White Wyandotte and in my judg- 
ment should be discounted as severely as the black flecking. 

To have a few feathers come with a slight tracing or 
black or dead color in the back, neck and wings, is a great 
disappointment. Still if we will stop to think a minute, we 
could not expect anything else. The White Wyandotte came 
from the Silver cross and they certainly have a certain 
amount of black blood in them which must come to the sur- 
face once in a while, but the yellow cast is not inherited 
from their ancestors and we can surely get rid of it by judi- 
cious mating. This sunburn appears more prominently in 
the male and is found on the neck, liack and shoulders prin- 
cipally. It is easy to understand why it should appear on 
the neck and back, but why it should crop out on the wings 
is something of a puzzle. The hackle and saddle being com- 
posed of long feathers, it is hard for nature to supply oil 
enough to protect the outside from the severe heat of the 
sun, but the shoulders are composed of short feathers and 
nature should be able to keep them white. In scoring for 
this defect, the cuts run from one-half to one and one-half 
in all sections. Should there be a trace of flecking, the cut 
will be fromi pno hajf to one point mflre in each section. 



Should the neck be good on the surface but show a yellow 
tint underneath, the cut would be one-half point. If the 
wings are good on the surface, but show yellow quills in the 
secondaries and flight feathers, the cut is one-half to one 
according to the degree. It a bird shows off-color in any 
section, such as grease or paint or any foreign substance, 
the cut is one point, and the cut should be made in the con- 
dition column and the sections affected should be designated 
with a check mark on the card. 

Feeding for Color. 

Feeding to produce a pure white color has been a serious 
study with some fanciers, and some have proved that it has 
an effect in particular cases. Considering my own exper- 
ience, I say look to nature for your remedy and study nature 
for the cause and effect. It is reasonable to suppose that a 
part of the diet of a fowl goes to form the coloring matter 
of its plumage and we have learned that it is a fact that 
some foods contain much more of this coloring matter than 
others. After a feather is grown you can do nothing to 
change it, that is, it is a finished production and feeding any 
particular diei cannot change it. But there was a time in 
the history of the feather when you could have helped na- 
ture to add a different shade to it. That was the time when 
the feather was growing and its quill was full of sap. If at 
thiit time we had fed for color, being careful not to allow 
our fowls anything but the whitest kinds of food, we could 
undoubtedly have helped to make the plumage white, but 
after the feathers are matured it is too late to remedy the 
farlt, unless we want to pluck the fowl and try it over. If 
you wish to help the color of your fowls it must be in the 
molting season, as that is the time -ind the only time when 
food can affect the plumage. 

White Wyandotte Females. 

What has already been said in regard to the defects in 
tlie shape of the Silver and Gokien Wyandotte females may 
properly be applied to the White. Buff and Black varieties. 
Til is is also true of the color of the eyes and ear-lobes, so I 
will not tire you by repeating it. In discussing the white 
variety, I shall mention a few of the defects found in the 
plumage, and shall warn the amateur not to believe his best 
specimen is pure white until he has carefully examined 
every section on her for oft-colored feathers. I was in a 
yard of White Wyandotees a few months ago and was told 
by the owner that he had a flock that he could guarantee 
were pure white in every section. I asked him if he meant 
that they were absolutely white without any coloring of any 
kind. He said they were and that he would give me every 
bird that I could find with any sign of black or brown in it. 
"My friend," I said, "you may just as well ship all of them 
to me, for you have not a bird on your place that is abso- 
lutely free from ticking in all sections." He became indig- 
nant and asked me if I thought he was a fraud. "No," I 
said, "you are not a fraud, but you do not know as much 
about White Wyandottes as you think you do." He began to 
catch the birds and run them over carelessly, claiming that 
they were pure white, but when I began to show him where 
to look for the off-feathers, he soon learned that he did not 
have a single bird that was absolutely white. The White 
Wyandottes came from sports of the Silver and there is 
black blood in them, so that it is just as natural for them 
to throw a few feathers ticked with black as it is for them 
tn grow. It is not an impurity, it is the natural outcrop- 
ping of that black blood and it will be years before it en- 
tirely disappears. 

I think the present standard is entirely too severe on 
this variety, and a close application of it will lead to faking 
and feather pulling on the part of exhibitors. I am sure the 
judges do the breed an injustice by disqualifying for the 
trace of flecking so often found in their plumage. If the 
specimen shows unmistakable signs of foreign color, then 
debar the bird, but where faint traces of flecking appear, 
discount them from one-half to one and one-half, according 
to the degree. The plumage throughout, including the 
quills, should be pure white and when yellow or straw color 
appears, the cut is from one-half to one and one-half. This 
cut refers to every section of the bird, but the discoloration 
most often appears in the neck, back, wings and tail. 

The legs and toes are the same as the Silvers and the 
discount is the same, but there is a defect in the color of legs 
not so often met In the Silvers. I refer to the pale or white 
shanks. The shanks should be yellow and when they are 
pale or light colored the cut is from one-half to two, accord- 
ing to the degree, T-HEO. HEWES. 



STANDARD-BRED WHITE WYANDOTTES. 



•Best Breed for Broilers," and a Keen Rival for Highest Honors as the Best General Purpose Fowl— Points on 
Breeding this Beautiful and Useful Variety to Standard Requirements. 



BY ARTHUR G. DUSTON. 




ERMIT me to set forth in a plain way some 
thoughts in regard to the mating and breeding 
of the noble White Wyandotte that may be of 
value to the readers of this book. The White 
Wyandottes are true sports or albinos of the 
Silvers, and were brought out by a number of breeders at 
about the same time. They were admitted to the standard 
in 1888 and for some years enjoyed considerable popularity, 
but later they hardly held their own. I know when I first 
began to breed them they were a very small class in our 
shows. Often the entry of one breeder formed the whole 
exhibit. It must have been much easier to win then! 

In 1894. after trying several of the more popular breeds, 
I at length decided to handle but one variety of one breed, 
and do my best with that 
one. Finding that the 
White Wyandotte made the 
best broiler and roaster; 
that it is of quick growth, 
standing heavy feed and 
forcing; that it is an early 
and prolific layer, docile 
and exceedingly beautiful 
withal; in fact, that in my 
hands it proved to be the 
best all-round bird of the 
five kinds I tried, I discard- 
ed the others and became 
a specialist. I have faith- 
fully advertised them and 
when occasion offered have 
written about them (as 
have others) until to-day the 
White Wyandotte is one 

one of the most popular varieties of standard-bred fowls. 
Now it is often the largest instead of the smallest^class in 
our shows. They have only to be tried to make friheds. 

In writing of mating it will not be out of place to give a 
short description of the two birds shown in the frontispiece 
as being somewhat ideal. The cock is a "stay white" bird 
and so is the hen. Both have fine heads, rather stout, with 
a low comb of nice shape which, when chicks, were well- 
pebbled. Their backs are short, rising to the tail, which 
should always be short and fairly well spread. The body is 
deep with a full breast and considerable fluff, and it Is set on 
a pair of stout, yellow legs. Such birds are active and will 
reproduce themselves in a good percentage of the chicks. 

Now a few words in regard to the breeding pen. If we 
could start with a pen of ideal birds it would be quite a sim- 
ple matter to breed winners, provided, of course, that their 
parentage was up to standard and the blood of the males and 
of the females was not antagonistic, but "nicked," as we say. 
But we have two, three or ten females with Wyandotte 
shape and only a difference in the carrying of the tail or 
head, or one's comb is a trifle hollow, or some one of a hun- 
dred minor differences is apparent in each bird. Hence we 
must watch carefully what males we put with these females. 



It would be difficult for anyone to tell exactly how he puts 
up two birds, and he cannot always tell why. 

I think one of the first considerations in the breast. Try 
to get a male standing "wide apart" with a generous fullness 
in breast. Never put a hollow-chested male (which is a bad 
fault) with females having the same defect. We want the 
best combs we can get, but never discard a choice breeder on 
account of the comb unless the defect amounts to a disquali- 
fication. The eye should be bay and the plumage white. 
While we are commenting on the plumage, it might be well 
to state that as the white variety is yet so near to the Silver 
Wyandotte, it is no wonder that we get seme gray in the 
plumage. I have seen breeders who claim that their stock 
never has any. If that be so. their birds must get it by in- 




The kind of White WyandoUes Bred by Mr. A. G. Duston. 

fection very soon after leaving their owners' yards. We all 
get it and there is no use in saying we do not. We are all 
trying to get away from it. So if you get a bird with some 
gray in him, do not call the breeder a fraud. 

If the female is inclined to carry her tail too high, try 
to overcome it in the progeny by using a male carrying a 
low tail, which has as much width or fullness as possible. 
Never use a male with greenish legs or with green flecks 
under the scales, because from such a breeder come the 
green-legged birds. I always soup them. 

We are all trying for greater weight and I fear we shall 
overreach ourselves. Calls come for nine-pound cockerels. 
Don't do it! Try to add a little to your weights each year. 
If you put such large males with undersized females you will 
loss the shape and compactness so essentially Wyandotte. 
The best birds I ever raised or saw as regards shape, were 
those that were nearest standard weight. They are the neat, 
catchy fellows and they will cover all the claims we make 
for the Wyandottes. If we keep trying as the demand seems 
to be to add a pound or two over standard weight, will we 
not lose the early maturing qualities in a great measure? 

We want a rich yellow leg, and it is almost entirely due 
to the run the birds have. If free range on a grsen grass is 

59 



60 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



given them, not one per cent will fail to have as richly col- 
ored legs as you want. 

I have tried to mention a few of the first principles of 
mating, telling something about what we want. Bear in 
mind to seek to weaken any defect in the female breeders as 
far as possible by having the same section especially strong 
in the male, and vice versa. This rule and a close study of 
my birds have given me what success I have attained in 
breeding White Wyandottes. 

After you have your pen carefully selected and put to- 
gether, you will be filled with manifold doubts and misgiv- 
ings, but if you have given to the work the thought and time 
necessary, you should have faith enough to wait and see the 
chicks matured before you are discouraged. It is seldom I 
would advise making any change in a pen during the breed- 
ing season, especially on the recommendation of an outsider 
against what has been your best judgment. If the birds 
"nick" you win; if they do not, you lose. We have staked 
a season's get that we shall win choice specimens from our 
mating. But it is true that two of a family of children 
hardly ever look alike. Why, then should we expect all the 
get of a pen of beautiful birds to be as good as the parent 
stock? I firmly believe that it is possible for ninety per 
cent to come so if we are only judicious in our breeding and 
make careful records of all matings. I am a convert to this 
pUn, and I propose to test it thoroughly. 

Your chicks should be culled as closely as possible by 
the time they are eight weeks old, so as to give the others 
all the room you have, even if you have a hundred acres. 
Your coop room is growing rapidly less as they mature. 



You must expect to get culls. Some hatches will be bet- 
ter ihan others from the same pen. Is this to be wondered 
at when one considers the indifference with which this vari- 
ety has been bred for some years past? A prominent breeder 
told me that he got a much greater per cent of culls from his 
White Wyandottes than from his Barred Plymouth Rocks. 
We are going to overcome this in a few years by selection 
anu methodical breeding. 

Re.garding the importance of keeping a record of mat- 
ingi., I will give an illustration. You may believe that I 
wish I had kept mine a little closer. I know from what pens 
th» birds reproduced by Mr. Sewell in the colored plate 
came, that is, I know the father. But in breaking up the 
pens in the summer I lost track of most of the females that 
wore in that pen. If they were mated to that male again 
the eggs from those hens would be of almost untold value 
to me. 

Fellow-breeders of White Wyandottes. let us take uj) 
this matter of keeping accurate records of matings with the 
determination to carry it through, and then the splendid 
teaching of Mr. McGrew in the Reliable Poultry .Journal 
wiil not be in vain and we shall have lifted our prized While 
Wyandottes to such a stage of perfection that breeders of 
other varieties will think we have discovered a lost art. As 
we can truthfully do so, we should always write and speak, 
as occasions offer themselves, in favor of the White Wyan- 
dottes. Anyone who takes to breeding this variety of Wyan- 
dottes will find we are justified in what we say, for our 
favorites stand ready to verify any statement we may make 
regarding them. 



BREED TO AN IDEAL. 



The Selection ot a Breed and Then of a Variety— For the Beginner— Defects Increased by Injudicious Breeding— Ticking ot 
Feathers— Feather Pulling— Stay-White White Wyandottes can be Produced. 



BY CHARLES G. ARNOLD. 




OW often are we asked by persons who are about 
to start in the poultry business, "What breed 
would you select if you were IV" This is a ques- 
tion all beginners should settle for themselves. 
You know best what are your likes and dislikes. 
We have eleven standard varieties in the American class, 
all of which are worthy of your attention. The Wyandottes 
are becoming more popular every year, and I wish to say 
to those who are about to start that you will make no mis- 
take in selecting one of the Wyandotte varieties. 

No beginner should handle or try to breed more than 
one variety. . There is more to learn than you imagine. By 
the use of the modern incubator and brooder for hatching 
and caring for the chicks one is enabled to commence al- 
most any season of the year. The first step a beginner 
should take in the poultry business is to subscribe for some 
good poultry paper, such as the Reliable Poultry .Journal. 
The knowledge I have gained from reading that Journal is 
th3 cause of my birds being what they are to-day. Each 
issue is equal to a year's experience. 

I have always had a great love for poultry. In 1872 my 
uncle, while importing other live stock from England, 
brought over a trio of Dark Brahmas and presented them to 
my mother, and it was my lot to care for them. Not know- 
ing at that lime that there were poultry papers to read, our 
Brahmas soon suffered for the want of new blood, and in 
the course of about seven years our imported birds were no 
more. 



In 1888 I read my first poultry paper and at that lime 
having a home of my own, I began raising White Wyan- 
dottes. I was quite contented with the birds I then owned 
for a few years. Soon I purchased the American Standard 
of Perfection and found my Wyandottes were very defec- 
tive. I then purchased a choice trio of a noted breeder and 
commenced anew. In 189.5 I made my first exhibit, not for 
the sole purpose of winning, hut for what I could learn. 1 
have bred the White Wyandottes eight years, and each year 
I get new and better ideas in regard to mating, feeding, 
housing, etc., 

I find if I mate birds having the same defects that their 
progeny will show them to an alarming extent. Where the 
female is defective, select a male that is exceptionally strong 
in her defective sections, and continue to breed against sui h 
defects year after year. Keep constantly in your memory 
in what particulars your birds have been deficient and mate 
them so as to correct the defects in the progeny. Every 
breeder should have in his mind's eye an ideal fowl of the 
variety he is breeding. It should be better than anything 
he has ever seen — a perfect specimen in every section. You 
may never be able to produce such a bird, but your flock in 
general will be greatly improved. Choice specimens cannot 
be produced by a haphazard method of mating. An ideal 
must be formed and we must breed toward it. The person 
who is satisfied with what he has produced and is willing to 
accept it as good enough for him is not a true fancier. A 
true fancier is one that is always striving to produce better 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



61 



birds. It makes no difference how good the parent stock is, 
he is always looking for something Ijetter and when mating 
has this object in view — to produce better birds. 

When two choice specimens are mated, should you pro- 
duce two or three that show a marked improvement over 
the parent stock you have done well. Do not think for a 
moment that all the progeny is going to be equal to the 
parents. You will undoubtedly raise several disqualified 
birds, for which no one is to blame. The best breeder's stock 
is subject to throwing a disqualified specimen occasionally. 
I have noticed that when I mate birds with combs smaller 
than medium in size I get a great many single combs, and 
when I mate them larger than medium I have combs so 
large they lop to one side, causing another disqualification. 

There is also that ticking in the plumage uf the White 
Wyandotte which most breeders have been very slow to rec- 
ognize as a serious detect. It is about twenty-seven years 
since they were originated, and judging by all indications 
there is about as much of it now as then. This pulling 
feathers to make a disqualified specimen a star bird is prac- 
ticed too much for the good of the l)reed. In the eight years 
I have been breeding White Wyandottes my foremost object 
has been to get rid of this ticking. Last season fully seven- 
ty-five per cent of all I raised were entirely free from it, and 
for the last four years I have not bred a bird of my own 
raising that has shown the least particle of it. It is not so 



hard to breed out as a great many think. To be sure it 
takes time, but one's time is well spent when such a defect 
is eliminated from ones strain. The white in the ear-lobes 
is diminishing very fast; so would this ticking in plumage 
if the feathers could not be pulled out and the bird improved 
for the time being. Some breeders advise pulling these col- 
ored feathers before they mature, and claim that they will 
come in perfectly white. This may be true, but it will not 
be of any benefit to the bird as a breeder. With time and 
careful breeding we will overcome these defects to quite an 
extent, and I do hope there will be more attention paid to 
perfecting this breed or any other where such work has been 
practiced. It is as necessary to have a clear white and a 
stay-white color on our White Wyandottes as it is for them 
to have a nice, clear, yellow leg. It is the purity of the co'.or 
that makes them handsome. 

Weight is also another important point. A great many 
breeders are using heavy weight male birds to increase the 
size of the offspring. It should be done on the female side 
and done very gradually. There is also a tendency to get 
them two or three pounds heavier than the standard de- 
mauds. Their respective standard weights are heavy 
enough. The Wyandottes are considered to be one of the 
best general purpose fowls and when we increase their size 
we prolong their maturity, and when we lengthen their ma- 
turity we are losing in their useful qualities. 



THE BREEDING OF WHITE WYANDOTTES. 



With Special Attention to Size, Color and Number of Eggs — A True Breeder Must Combine Utility 

and Beauty. 



BY JOHN H. JACKSON. 




J>THOUGH numerous articles have been written 
on White Wyandottes, I do not think too much 
can be said in favor of this popular variety of 
! fowls. As bred to-day, they are not perfect, but 
'no other fowl, in my judgment, comes as near 
being an all-purpose fowl. I have bred poultry for nearly 
twenty years, always under my own care and management, 
beginning when a boy, and have found the thoroughbreds 
the most profitable for practical purposes. I have bred the 
Leghorns, Minorcas and Plymouth Rocks with good success. 
They always yielded me a profit, but I was looking for some- 
thing better, and believe I have found it in the White Wyan- 
dottes. 

In laying qualities the White Wyandottes in my hands 
have equaled the Leghorns and Minorcas, and they excel 
them greatly for market or table purposes, while as broilers 
they are ready for use at any age, of any size required and at 
seasons when most other breeds would not be in condition. 
They are at all times free from dark pin feathers, which is 
the main drawback to the black and parti-color varieties. 
For roasters weighing from four to five pounds nothing 
excels the White Wyandottes, and I do not think any other 
breed equals them. There are cross-bred fowls that give 
good results for broilers and roasters (as I have found by 
experience), but it is necessary to go to the trouble to keep 
fu!l-blood stock on both sides with which to make the first 
cross each season. The White Wyandottes fill the bill just 
as well as any cross-bred fowl, and save all this extra work 
and expense. 

All varieties of Wyandottes have the full, broad breast, 
the bulky build and firm flesh which dress well and com- 
mand the best prices on the market. When I began to breed 



Wliite Wyandottes tliey did not lay very large eggs, and the 
color of the eggs varied greatly from a light colored to a 
dark brown shell. At the present time, however, the best 
strains lay large, richly colored brown eggs, and they lay a 
good many more of them than they used to. They are to- 
day one of our very best layers, especially in winter time, 
owing to their rose combs, which do not freeze. 

The White Wyandotte is a hardy fowl and the chicks 
are easy to raise. Of course, there are poor strains in this 
as well as in other varieties. The best strains are produced 
by the careful breeders, by those who appreciate what is 
really valuable in a standard-bred fowl and work for it 
through a term of years. We have every reason to believe 
that the White Wyandottes, by intelligent selection and 
mating, can be brought to a very high state of perfection 
and still hold their utility qualities to an unexcelled degree. 
A number of years ago, when breeding Minorcas, I had a 
pullet that scored, under three different judges, 95 to 96 
points. She began to lay early and laid throughout the win- 
ter. I could not learn what the laying qualities of her direct 
ancesters were, but thought this bird a good one with which 
to start a strain, so I raised all the chicks I could hatch 
from her eggs and succeeded in getting quite a flock of fine, 
standard birds having extra laying qualities. 

It is in this same manner, as a result of my first exper- 
iment with Minorcas, that I have prosecuted the breeding of 
White Wyandottes. From the first I have given special 
attention to the size, color and number of eggs laid by my 
White Wyandottes, and I find that this breed, the same as 
others under intelligent management, responds quickly and 
surely to proper selection and mating. I do not claim that 
culls will not sometimes turn out to be good layers, as well 



62 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



as the best specimens, but the point is this: Is it not better 
to breed from birds having good laying qualities and meet- 
ing standard requirements than to breed from fowls with 
equally good laying qualities but not meeting standard re- 
quirements, meaning those of size, shape and shade of color, 
including other lesser points of beauty, like comb, color of 
eye, etc.? 

As a matter of tact there are few breeders of fowls who 
do not prefer fine-looking birds, even though they insist on 
having good layers and fine table fowl. Many times I have 
received letters from persons wanting to buy birds, stating 
that they did not want "show birds," but nevertheless they 
would proceed to give a description of a bird, or birds, that 
would be well calculated to win in any show room, which 
goes to prove that the standard-bred fowl is the most at- 
tractive, even to the mind of the unprofessional. 

It is true that in breeding for good laying qualities, com- 
bined, with standard requirements, you will have to sacrifice 
some fine looking specimens, those that are below par as 




First Prize pen of White Wyaiidottes. Average score, 95},' points. 
Bred and owned by J, H. Jackson. 



layers. My best success has been gained in raising only 
as many each year as I could take good care of and in select- 
ing the best specimens for breedinc, selling all culls on the 
market. If one has plenty of house and yard room it often 
pays to keep the culls for fall and winter layers, disposing 
of them the next spring when they become broody, or a lit- 
tle later when they start to molt. They always sell well at 
that season of the year in our local markets when the people 
get tired of the frozen stuff that is marketed at that time of 
the year. In breeding a comparatively small number, 
or as many as you can take proper care of, your chances of 
greatly improving your flocks both in standard and utility 
points are increased. 

In mating White Wyandottes I do not use the large, 
rangy males to get size. If you do this you are sure to get 
long, lanky cockerels. It is from the females that we get 
the most even size and best formed males, the blocky built 
birds, those not above standard weight preferred. For fe- 
males, I use good layers — specimens from six to seven 
pounds. I do not want them larger or heavier than this, 



for big Wyandottes do not lay as well as standard weight 
fowls. I want my Wyandotte females to be "full of business," 
and they do not need to be an ounce above standard weights 
for best results. These standard weight birds are the ones 
that mature the quickest. Still, you are compelled to breed 
a percentage of large birds to meet the demand for breeding 
stock made by persons who do not appreciate the true value 
of Wyandottes. I hope they will learn to do so later on. 

Breeding for good combs is a strong point in White 
Wyandottes. If a bird is good in every other way, but has a 
bad comb, it is spoiled to sell for breeding purposes or for 
exhibition. I believe in breeding persistently for small, 
evenly pebbled combs. Even if you breed from a good comb 
that is too large, you will get many poor combs. A small 
comb that is uneven will not look so bad as a big comb that 
is even. By breeding for medium combs I have had by far 
the best results in sales, in profits and in satisfied customers. 
The amateur, I am free to say, will always look for a good 
comb whether he knows anything about a fowl or not. Tlie 
best advice I can give the amateur is to 
learn all he possibly can about the breed 
or variety in which he is interested. This 
is his protection. 

The eyes and lobes are of great im- 
portance, wi'th reference to the beauty of 
White Wyandottes. A rich bay, or red eyr, 
is what is wanted. A pale or white eye 
gives the bird an unnatural, out-of-con- 
dition look and is despised by the true 
fancier. A male with a v/eak lobe, that 
is, one that is inclined to show white at 
times, is a poor bird to breed. It will 
show more or less in females according 
to their condition as layers, but a male 
should have a strong red lobe at all 
times. 

The surface color and the shape cf 
White Wyandottes are of prime impor- 
tance. My ideal bird in shape is of blocky 
build. Pure white color is v.'hat is ears- 
ing much discussion. I much prefer a 
white bird, but do not believe in sacri- 
ficing rich yellow legs, beak and skin 
for chalk-white feath-rs. The latter will 
have a light yellow or lemon colored leg, 
which will turn almost white before the 
fowl is two years old. I will not breed 
from a male that does not have rich yel- 
low legs and beak. I do not believe in birds that show 
brassiness in plumage or yellow in the quills, but there is 
danger of our breeding them to a point of whiteness where 
they will have light colored legs, beak and skin. We must 
compromise somewhere between the two extremes. 

Some of the best White Wyandottes at the late Boston 
show were very white, with good colored legs, excepting one 
pullet. She was standard in weight and a grand bird in 
every way, with chalk-white plumage, but she was light in 
color of legs. With proper care and attention birds with 
fine yellow legs, beak and skin can be placed on exhibition 
with their plumage snow-white, but even the best of them 
are very apt to show more or less of the objectionable yel- 
low cast in surface plumage as the birds grow older and are 
exposed to all kinds of weather. In my opinion it is better 
to sacrifice color to this extent rather than breed out the 
good market qualities, viz.: yellow legs and skin. 

In writing this article I have based the statements on 
facts obtained from ray own experience. Although not so 
large a breeder as many others, I give them my constant 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



63 



study and have been successful with my matings. I think I 
have produced as many high-class specimens proportion- 
ately to the number raised as any other breeder of White 
Wyandottes who has still held to and improved the utility 
qualities of the variety. Birds of my breeding have scored 
to 9G points and a fraction, and won honors in strong com- 



petition, which is proof enough to my mind that utility and 
beauty can be combined in the White Wyandotte. I, there- 
fore, take the ground that it is the true fancier's duty to 
coTpbine the two, sacrificing in the long run neither the one 
nor the other. I hold that both are essential to true success 
in producing this or any other popular American variety 
that has a commercial value. 



A PRACTICAL FANCY FOWL. 



While Wyandottes the Fowls for Amateurs—Their Origin— Pre-eminently the Breed for Broilers— Unexcelled Market Fowl- 
Comparison with Other Breeds— Early Maturity— Good Layers, Sitters and 
M others— Selection of Breeders, 



BV RALPH I. DUNLAP. 




. O MUCH has been written about the White Wy- 
andotte that it seems an almost useless task 
to endeavor to tell anything new. But if we 
consider for a moment that old saying, 
"When you get a good thing push it along, " 
a few rem.irks will perhaps not be out of place. The theory 
of the origin of the White Wyandotte which is generally ac- 
cepted, is that they are sports of the Silvers. And this no 
doubt accounts for the little gray ticking and the splashes of 
gray which are found in the plumage of so many specimens. 

The shape which the standard demands for the Wyan- 
dotte is one that I consider almost ideal. I hardly think 
that it could be improved. It is a shape that catches the eye 
of all, whether it is seen in the show room or on the farm; 
by the fancier or the utility man. While the standard does 
no:: call for Wyandotte shape in Plymouth Rocks, yet I have 
noticed that a Rock with Wyandotte shape presents a very 
pleasing appearance and is very much admired by a great 
many people. Why? Because it gives to the bird that full- 
ness and compactness of form that is possessed by no other 
breed. 

It is rather a difficult task to find words with which to 
describe the Wyandotte shape, although the term "blocky" 
expresses it about as well as anything. This distinct blocky 
shape is very striking even when the chick is first hatched 
and it grows more striking as the bird becomes older. I once 
heard a person remark, "I do not like some of the fastest 
race horses because they are so ugly." Now, if the swiftest 
racer were also the handsomest animal, he would be greatly 
admired by all. How is it with the Wyandotte? In my 
humble opinion they come nearer having an ideal shape 
than any other breed, and they are not only a handsome 
fowl, but they are business birds from the word "go." This 
applies to the whole Wyandotte family, for what is standard 
shape for one variety is standard shape for all. 

When it comes to the question of size I will select the 
American class every time, for the Wyandottes and Ply- 
mouth Rocks are not so large and clumsy as the fowls of the 
Asiatic class nor so small and nervous as those of the Med- 
iterranean, but they are just right — a happy medium. 

The comb is another splendid feature of the Wyandotte. 
They have a comb that is low with no high points to freeze; 
one that has a neat and healthy look, and one that gives to 
the bird the same pleasing appearance that a nice hat does 
to a well-dressed man. Any one who keeps fowls during a 
cold winter can realize the value of such a comb from a 
utility standpoint and it is not devoid of beauty, either. An- 



other good feature of the Wyandotte is its clean, yellow, 
featherless legs. What an advantage it gives them for mar- 
ket purposes, besides they can run about in all kinds of 
weather, without carrying a large tract of real estate around 
on each foot, soiling and breaking their feathers. 

After noting the excellent characteristics of the Ameri- 
can class in general and of the Wyandotte family in par- 
ticular, then comes the task of selecting a variety of this 
noble breed. There are the Blacks, Buffs, Goldens, Silvers 
and Whites, named in the order of their popularity, begin- 
ning with the least popular. I had never seen a White Wy- 
andotte before I decided to breed them and sent for eggs. 
Yet I did not merely stumble on a good variety as some 
people do, for I had read a great deal about their fine quali- 
ties, both as exhibition specimens and business birds. I 
also had seen some Silvers and in this way was pleased with 
the Wyandotte shape. I would probably have bought Sil- 
vers, but the males were, in my opinion, very ugly in color, 
and besides I always had admired a fowl with snow white 
plumage. It makes such a nice combination with a red 
comb, bay eyes and clean yellow legs. But some people pre- 
fer one variety, some another. It is purely a matter of taste 
and the choice must be made by the person himself. 

I chose the White Wyandotte, first, because I always 
admired a white fowl and because I wanted one that was a 
good layer, a good sitter and mother, and a good market 
bird, and I believed the White Wyandotte to be unsurpassed 
as an all-around, general purpose fowl. Nor have I ever 
regretted my choice, for I have found the White Wyandottes 
to be all that a reasonable person could wish. I do not 
mean that they will lay two eggs per day or are ready for 
fries at the age of three weeks, nor do they possess any other 
extraordinary features such as I have seen claimed for some 
breeds, but if you want a fowl that presents a fine appear- 
ance in the show room and one that is a business bird from 
the time it is hatched, get the White Wyandotte. 

With ihe exception of about four years I have raised 
chickens since I was a lad of five and I have bred common 
chickens, Black, Buff and Partridge Cochins, Light Brah- 
mas. Black Langshans, Brown Leghorns and Barred Ply- 
mouth Rocks. I do not say that I have not been successful 
with these breeds, but I only wish to state that I discarded 
them because I have been more successful with the White 
Wyandotte. While the Cochins and Brahmas made good 
layers and good eating, they could also do their part when it 
came to the eating question. They were too clumsy and 
lazy to suit me, and they are always standing around in 



64 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



the way, breaking eggs when sitting, and tramping upon 
the young chiclis. Still my great-grandmother, now in her 
eighty-ninth year, and my grandmother have both been 
raising Buff Cochins for a long, long time. The Black Lang- 
shans I found to be splendid winter layers, good sitters and 
mothers, but their feathered legs and black plumage were 
against them for market purposes. The Leghorns v.'ere too 
scary and had such nice, large combs for Jack Frost to nip! 
I will not say anything against the Barred Rocks, for they 
belong to the American class, but the Wyandotte shape and 
the Wyandotte comb were what made me give the prefer- 
ence to the Wyandottes. 

I have had White Wyandotte pullets lay at the age of 
one hundred and thirty-two days, but I never try to push 
them for very early laying, for the little gained does not 
equal what is lost in size. They will begin to lay, however, 
along in the fall, and a pullet or hen either, for that matter, 
that will do this, will lay through the winter when eggs 
bring such good prices. The energetic Wyandotte will not 
only lay during the fall and winter, but will keep right on 
shelling out the eggs during the spring and summer months 
as well. The Leghorns may be egg-machines, but give me 
the White Wyandotte for all-around laying. No artificial 
heat is needed to keep their combs from freezing and to en- 
courage egg-production. 

The White Wyandotte is not only a good layer, but she 
is a good sitter and mother as well. When it comes to the 
market question, the White Wyandotte stays in the front 
ranks. What fowl presents a nicer appearance on the mar- 
ket? The Barred Rocks are claimed to be the best market 
fowl in existence, but one of the prominent broiler men in 
the east says that he kept these two breeds side by side, but 
finally discarded the Rocks because the Wyandottes were 
ready tor market at an earlier age. This is what he says 
when it comes to the forcing question: "If you try to raise 
Rocks and Wyandottes in the same pen, the experiment 
will prove to you this fact: Your Rocks will go 'off their 
legs' while the deep-breasted, plump-bodied, smooth- 
skinned, active little Wyandottes take their medicine five 
times a day and stand straight as matches." 

My own experience has been that they grow faster. Then 
they do not grow by jerks, as some breeds do, that is, they 
do not grow awhile, stop and take on a coat of feathers and 
then fill out, but they keep right on growing all the time 
and are always plump and compact, instead of slim and 
loose-jointed. I have found that they stand confinement 
well in small pens, although if given range they make fine 
foragers. 

I will not go into detail in regard to their care and feed- 
ing, but I should like to mention a few points. Crushed 
oyster shell, sharp, hard grit, plenty of clean, fresh water, 
a dust bath (or some means of keeping vermin away), clean, 
roomy quarters, good feed and common sense in feeding are 
necessary to successfully produce good, healthy, vigorous 
stock. If you have fine stock and eggs for sale, judicious 
advertising and exhibiting, and plenty of perseverance are 
further requirements for success with poultry. 

A great many people rush pell-mell into the poultry 
business with great theories about raising poultry on a large 
scale, who have almost no practical knowledge of the busi- 
ness. They intend to keep a great many kinds and to do 
things just right. They read everything about poultry that 
they can get and think by this means to be able to cope with 



any difficulty that may arise, not knowing that many things 
can only be learned by experience. They see no way for 
failure to over take them and (on paper) they count their 
profits. But do they succeed? Perhaps a small per cent of 
them do. but it is only when a little common sense has been 
knocked into their heads (probably at the cost of a great 
many dollars), in the hard school of experience. And even 
then it requires nerve and perseverance to stick to it. 

How much better it would have been if they had started 
in a small way, learning the details of the business which 
can only be mastered by experience, and then gradually in- 
creased as success and practical knowledge warranted. 

I hardly feel competent to give an outline for breeding 
the White Wyandotte, but I advise the reading of that splen- 
did article on "Standard Bred White Wyandottes," by Mr. 
Arthur G. Duston, on page .59, reproduced from the Relia- 
ble Poultry .Journal. Also the many other excellent arti- 
cles which have been published In the Reliable about this 
noble variety. My advice, however, is to throw out all spec- 
imens with single combs and feathered legs even if there is 
only a stub. Also discard those with very much white in 
the ear-lobe. Pick birds with bay eyes, as pearl or gray ones 
give the bird an unnatural look. Market all those that have 
green or dark colored legs. Some birds that are closely con- 
fined have pale colored legs, but if given a good range with 
plenty of grass, nearly all will have nice, yellow legs. 

Breed for good combs. A large, ill-shaped one gives a 
bird a bad appearance. Low, even, nicely pebbled combs 
fitting closely to the head, are what we want. 

Remember the Wyandotte shape when mating your 
birds, for, as Mr. T. F. McGrew says, in one of his fine arti- 
cles on "Science in Breeding," "Shape should come before 
color; it is shape that makes the breed, color the variety." 
Breed for that blocky build. Do this and you can soon tell 
what good Wyandotte shape is. High, pinched tails, long 
backs, slim necks, flat breasts, narrowness between the 
legb, badly shaped heads, large combs, or slim bodies on tall, 
stilty legs, do not make a blocky compact bird. And right 
here let me say, do not use big, rangy males, as such birds 
never have a nice, compact form and the cockerels from 
this kind of a mating are generally slim and lanky. Intro- 
duce or build up the size with the females and keep the 
shape. 

Now comes the color question. I do not feel firmly 
enough settled to give my opinions on this subject yet, but 
I will say breed for pure white plumage, stay-white plum- 
age, but do not sacrifice shape for color. The White Wyan- 
dotte still shows Its close relationship to the Silvers by the 
I'ttle gray ticking and gray splashes which appear in the 
plumage. This is not a disqualification, only a defect and 
is still a common fault, so do not think the person from 
whom you bought is dishonest if you receive birds with a 
little gray in tiiem. Above all, be sure to have good, 
healthy, vigorous stock with which to start. The best is 
none too good. 

I have endeavored to present a few plain facts that I 
have learned from experience. If I have made any rash or 
untrue statements no one will be happier to have them cor- 
rected than I. I have also endeavored to give the breeds 
with which I have compared the White Wyandotte, their 
just dues, for 1 always dislike to read an article lauding one 
variety to the skies and running down all others, even if 
that article be on White Wyandottes. 










-'-v-^. 



BUFF WYANDOTTES— By SEWELL. 



RELIABLE 

POULTRY 
JOl/RNfiL., 



Characteristics, shape and standard requirements are substantially the same as those given for the Silver Laced variety, page 34. 
The color of the plumage is the only marked difference, this variety showing a beautiful buff color in all sections. 




OW we have to consider one variety of the Wy- 
andotte breed that is in an experimental stage 
so far as the production of show specimens is 
concerned. In my opinion they are one of the 
best of this family and during my six years' 
experience with them they have proven to be excellent 
layers, sitters and mothers, but we cannot expect them to 
breed true in color and other fancy points in so short a 
time. We find exceptionally fine stock here and there over 
the country. We even have seen solid buff wings and tails 
on both males and females, but these are not average birds, 
they are way above the average. The best breeders of the 
Buffs who are looking for their advancement along the lines 
of honest improvement, will admit that as yet they have not 
perfected this variety. 

We have many obstacles to overcome, perhaps more 
than are encountered in the breeding of any other buff va- 
riety. First, we must overcome about forty per cent of 
black; then there is more red than yellow in the make-up of 
the foundation stock of most strains, and white has been 
introduced to soften the color. About all the buff we have 
been able to get was from the Cochin cross and in most 
cases this was from Cochin males with a lot of black in 
wings and tails. There has also been a direct cross of Gol- 



den Wyandottes which has helped some sections, but in- 
jured others. Some breeders used a cross of Rhode Island 
Reds instead of Golden Wyandottes. which in a measure 
was better as it did not cause so many black or laced necks. 
Intelligent breeders in every state are taking up the buff 
variety and already they have enough good ones to help one 
another. During the next two years there will be more im- 
provement in Buff Wyandottes than has been made in the 
past five years, and it will be accomplished by mating Wy- 
andottes and not by resorting to outside crosses, which has 
been the rule in the past. 

The standard is very plain on the question of color in 
this, as it is in all buff varieties. The color is the same in all 
— a "rich, golden buff, free from shafting or mealy appear- 
ance." It is easy to understand, but hard to produce. In 
the first place, buff is a made color and not a primary color. 
When it is produced it is hard to hold unless the breeder is 
an expert and knows to a certainty the strength of his 
breeding stock, both male and female. This is where in- 
breeding, described in another part of this book, holds 
despotic sway. Without inbreeding one cannot produce 
good Buffs year after year. One must know the sires and 
dams of his stock to make sure of success. 

The man who wins this year, fails next and wins the 



65 



66 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



next is not much encouragement to a Buff amateur. But 
the man whose advice is worth much to you is the breeder 
who wins year after year and who can show stock three and 
four years old that still retains the same elegant buff color 
that his cockerels and pullets show. There are Messrs. 
Sharp Brothers, 0. L. McCord and W. W. Browning, 
men who win year after year. When such men talk 
of color breeding, the laymen can learn. I do not claim 
much for myself, but I do assert that I converse with more 
of the leading fanciers of this country than any other man 
who makes a business of judging fowls. I believe in im- 
provement and I believe "ur teachers should be qualified. 
Seeing a few birds in a number of shows does not teach me 
so much, but when I go to a leading breeder's yards and note 
his matings and he points out his stock in pen after pen, 
which looks as much alike as the average family of children, 
then I know I am getting at the heart of the business of 
breeding fancy stock, and I get information of great value 
to others. 

In shape the Buffs should be a fac-simile of the Silvers, 
and defects in shape must be cut in the same proportion. 
Remember that in color they must be absolutely buff. Black 
and white are alike objectionable and will be cut when the 
birds are shown in the winter exhibitions. Remember, too. 
that red is not buff, and when your birds are scored by an 
expert who is not color blind, the red birds will tail to win. 
Let the motto of every Buff Wyandotte breeder be, "solid 
buff from comb to tail." The future of the Buff Wyandottes 
depends upon their admirers, who cannot afford to miss an 
opportunity of perfecting them in any particular. Let me 
utter one warning, however. The utility side, which is so 
prominent at the present day, must not be allowed to retro- 
grade in the slightest. 

The Female. 

The Golden Wyandotte breeders claim that the Goldens 
are the "beauty breed," but any one who sees a Buff Wyan- 
dotte females that is truly buff must feel that the Buffs are 
strong rivals for the honor of being called "the beauty 
breed." As an all-round fowl for meat and eggs the Buff 
Wyandotte has no superior in the middle weight class. As 
a winter layer she equals the best and as an every-day fowl 
tor the farmer, she cannot be excelled. The fancier will find 



that it is well worth his time to give them the attention that 
is required to make this variety a perfect fancy fowl. As a 
fancy fowl, they are not yet perfected, as they have only 
been bred a few years, but the per cent of really first-class 
specimens that have been exhibited the past year makes one 
marvel at what has been accomplished, and it is only a mat- 
ter of a few years when they will be the equal of the oldest 
bufi varieties in America. 

In color they should be a rich golden buff throughout, 
free from shafting or a mealy appearance, and they should 
show the same shade of buff in all sections. The descrip- 
tion of shape, comb, eyes, legs and feet is the same that I 
have given for the other varieties. 

In mating for color, the main trouble has been to get an 
even surface with clear wings and tail. The flights of the 
wings are usually better than the secondaries. The black 
blood that came through the Golden Wyandotte cross will 
make itself felt for several seasons. If the wing shows 
black in the secondaries with clear flights, the cut is from 
one-half to one point, according to degree. If black shows 
in both flights and secondaries, the cut is from one to two 
points. If there is a red bow on the wings showing a sort of 
bay color, cut it one. If any black appears in hackle, the 
cut is from one-half to one and one-half, according to de- 
gree. If the surface color is uneven, that is, if two or more 
shades of buff appear in the same specimen, the cut is from 
one-half to one in all such sections. If the main tail feath- 
ers are edged with black at the top and the rest of the 
feathers are sound, the cut is one-half. If the tail is half 
black the cut is two, and if the entire tail is black the cut is 
four. Remember always that you can only cut for defects 
according to the number of points set aside for each sec- 
tion, and in order to cut all the points that are allowed one 
section, the entire section must be wrong. 

As buff color is the same in all breeds and as the meth- 
ods of producing a good buff" color on Cochins will just as 
successfully produce it on Wyandottes, I give here an able 
article from the pen of W. W. Browning, written expressly 
for this book. I am sure it will be read with interest by the 
admirers of all buff varieties. After handling Mr. Browning's 
birds in the show room for several years and personally in- 
specting his breeding stock on the farm, we feel safe in say- 
ing that breeders of new buff varieties will make no mistake 
if they follow his instructions. THEO. IIEWES. 



BUFF COLOR. 



UV W. W. BROWNING. 




FTER years of study and experimenting I think 
I have discovered the causes of a majority of 
failures to produce prime buff color. I have 
seen breeders handle this color successfully 
for years and then go wrong at a time when 
thpy thought their matings were just right. In disgust they 
quit the business when they should have studied harder to 
discover the cause of their trouble. Every article that I 
have read on mating buff colored chickens is wrong and mis- 
leading. The writers either advocate fostering red males, 
or those that have some black in wings and tails. They 
argue that the black feeds the buff color and adds luster to 
the plumage and that it is needed because the tendency of 
all fowls is to lose color. After studying wild fowls for 
years I am ready to say that I do not believe it. If it were 
true all wild fowls would be white, while the fact is, white 
in wild birds of all kinds is the exception instead of the 
rule. 

Buff color is composed principally of the primary color 



yellow, having added just a little red and white. If yellow, 
red anu white make buff then why should we add black? 
It Is because we have not learned to mix the three colors 
first named and we let the buff we have fade to such an ex- 
tent that we add black to check the fading. If you will mix 
the three colors named in the right proportion, you will 
have that soft, rich, pleasing color that has made the buff 
fowl popular all over the world. I say emphatically that 
there is no black used in mixing buff color. Black does not 
feed buff color, nor does it add any luster to it. It is, in fact, 
a great curse in breeding for buff. It gives you laced necks, 
black tails, black in the wings, smoky under-color and a 
muddy surface color. It will not even counteract white, 
still in spite of all this we hear breeders who are handling 
buffs advocate using black. A few years ago judges cut 
severely for white and lightly for black in buff fowls. At 
that time I took a bold stand against this outrage, and I am 
pleased to say that now judges punish both defects alike. 
The color to breed for is yellow and you want to get a 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



67 



pure color from the surface down to the skin, quills and all. 
You will get plenty of red and white without breeding tor it, 
but if you get too mueh red or white you ean breed it out by 
seli?ction much easier than you can breed out the black, for 
the reason given, that red and white are used in buff mix- 
tures and the yellow will mix with and control these colors 
to a far greater extent than it will black. Look- to the 
under-color for breeding strength. If you get sound surface 
color, but white under-color, then you have more white than 
yellow in your mixture, and the result will be that your 
specimen is not half buff. 

Select your choicest breeders while the chicks are two 
to three months old. They will show defects then that may 
disappear almost if not entirely, later on. Smoky under- 
color in back and neck will show plainly at this time. It 
may disappear altogether later on, but it is In the blood and 
you do not want to breed such specimens. If you purchase 
matured fowls and they do not breed properly, examine 
them closely during their molting season and when the new 
feathers are quite young you will no doubt discover the 
cause. You cannot depend on your buff matings unless you 
handle the chicks from the time they are a month old until 
they are matured, yes, even after they are matured. If 
white appears in your flock, do not use black to counteract 
it, as white will appear in any solid black variety nearly as 
often as it does in some of the buff varieties. You will not 
find perfect buff color in every section of any of the new 
varieties of bufts. Use common sense in your matings, 
and overcome black, red and white by the use of yellow 



only. These theory writers have gotten black so firmly 
fixed in the older buff varieties that the sins of the parents 
are fastened onto the chickens even unto the "steenth" gen- 
eration. 

Some of these theorists who are supposed to be breed- 
ers say that black is the proper thing if you keep it in the 
wing feathers and the tail so that it does not show from the 
surface when the fowl is viewed in a natural position. Nurs- 
ing black where the amateur does not see it is a ten-fold 
evil, because the black is there and it will crop out in the 
chicks and very likely cause the amateur to quit in disgust. 
Be sure that the flight feathers are perfectly clear buff, that 
there is no black in the neck and that there is as little dark 
as possible in the flighc coverts and tail. See that the under- 
color is sound in as many sections as possible, and you will 
find your fowls gradually improving until they will reach 
perfection in color in all sections. Had I to choose between 
the two I should rather have a breeder with no black and 
take the one that had considerable white, until I got the 
black well bred out of the blood of my strain, unless I was 
breeding Buff Leghorns. This Buff variety has too much 
white in it on account of its White Leghorn ancestors. 

Remember, yellow and black will not mix and produce a 
pleasing color, while yellow, red and white will mix and 
give you that beautiful shade called buff. 

As to the effect of food on color, I have no knowledge. 
I am not trying to produce my buffs in this way. I believe 
the proper way is to breed them right and that the food will 
then have but little, if any, effect. W. W. BROWNING. 



BREEDING BUFF WYANDOTTES. 



A Comparatively New Breed—How to Start— Introducing Foreign Blood— Selling and Exhibiting Stock. 



BY MRS. J. M. DENISON. 



i^S 



ANY things have to be considered when we breed 
Buff Wyandottes. First, we must remember that 
they are comparatively a new bi-eed and there- 
fore more study is required in mating them than 
in mating the Silvers or other varieties of Wy- 
andottes. However, we have been making rapid strides and 
are in a fair way to overtake them. We claim for the Buffs 
a place at "the top of the ladder," and we will not be satis- 
tied until it is assured. That they have qualities most desir- 
able in an all-purpose fowl must be acknowledged by all, 
and the only question now is how to perfect them. 

Our greatest trouble arises in the desire to do too much 
in too short a time. The increased demand for stock and 
eggs leads us to overlook faults in our breeding stock, and 
we admit to our yards birds which have good score cards, 
but which should cot be used as breeders if we wish the best 
results. Therefore, let me say to the beginner, do not con- 
sider how many birds, but how good ones you can produce. 
To this end put your money in a trio if you can not 
afford a pen. To make a start I should much rather put 
twenty-five dollars ($2.5) in a trio properly mated than into 
any other number. Mark the eggs and set those from each 
hen separately, marking the chickens when hatched so you 
can tell which hen produces the best stock, both pullets and 
cockerels. If you find that one hen throws better cor:kerels 
than the other, select the best and mate him to pullets from 
the other hen. Use your old male with pullets, selecting 
those that are strong in points where he is weak; and mate 



the hens with a cockerel strong in the sections in which the 
females are weak. 

Now you have a good start and unless there is some 
point in which both are weak you need not introduce new 
blood and new faults until you have become thoroughly 
acquainted with the good and bad features of your own 
strain. You can undo the work of years if not judicious in 
the introduction of new blood. 

Having a good foundation the success that follows de- 
pends greatly upon your love for the work and proper man- 
agement. The details of the business must be closely 
watched. Do not trust too much to hired help, for generally 
their interest is confined to their pay. Know your chickens 
and let them know you. Care for them as you like to be 
cared for and they will return your kindness tenfold. Hav- 
ing good stock and understanding your business, advertise 
it, selecting for your medium journals that will stand by the 
right and expose fraud regardless of the cost. Now the bat- 
tle is half won. The rest depends on your stick-to-it-ive- 
ness and honorable dealings with your customers. Let them 
feel that you have their interest in mind as well as your 
own. and then while you can not satisfy all, you can please 
the majority, thus making friends as well as customers. 

Another thing to be remembered is this. If you have 
been fortunate enough to produce exhibition birds, show 
them. Do not s^y you have some at home as good or better 
than some one else has; prove it. Say so's do not go far 
and prove nothing. Suppose you do not take first prizes. 



68 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



you have learned how your birds compare with others and 
wherein they are-faulty, thus you are better prepared for the 
shows another year. Then, too, the association with people 
interested in poultry helps. 

I have been successful to quite an extent, I am very 



proud to say, but it has not been luck, as some suggest. It 
has come by following the lines that I have advised here. 
There is still work to do, and we welcome the earnest 
worker to our ranks. 

MRS. J. M. DENISON. 



BUFF WYANDOTTES FOR AMATEURS. 



BY THEODORE HEWES. 



I HERE is always more or less boom talk and 
writing about a new variety, and we are often 
led astray by fairy tales of the great egg pro- 
duction and elegant table qualities of these 
new fangled varieties. A few years ago I was 
severely criticised for writing an article regarding the Buff 





BWSOWittST 
3/oRKVm,t 111 - 






First prize Buff Wyandotte pullet, Chicago, Jan. 21-26, 1001. Bred 
owned and e.vhit)ited l)y A. S: E. Tarbox. 

Wyandottes. At that time I warned the amateur to let them 
alone until the fanciers hart made a standard breed of them, 
for at that time they were in their early experimental stage 
and not entitled to the name standard-bred. I have since 
been complimented by some who at that time censured me. 
The Buff Wyandottes have now passed the experimental 
stage, as a utility fowl, and are to-day one of the very best 
of the middle weight birds. I have given them considerable 
attention in the past six years, and I have never handled a 
variety that I liked better nor one that has given better 
results. 

They have actually been a surprise to me as winter lay- 



ers, and I doubt very much it we have a breed in the stan- 
dard that can beat them. The past winter I had built sev- 
eral small houses, 4x6, for winter breeding houses. These 
houses were enclosed in pens 16 feet square, and five females 
and one male placed in each for the winter. Among the lot 
of birds so mated were three hens and two pullets of the 
Buff Wyandottes. These birds were all fed alike, that is the 
same amount of food was given to each variety in its own 
pen, and all were fed twice a day. A mash made of bran 
and oatmeal was fed in the morning, and good wheat was 
thrown in the litter for the evening meal. During the cold- 
est weather ever known in this part of the United States, 
and with snow on the ground almost all the time, those five 
females laid an average of 77 eggs per month, or a little bet- 
ter than one egg every two days for each hen. 

These birds were not forced for eggs, in fact very little 
care was given them, as we are breeding only for the fancy 
and made no effort to secure eggs for the market. This rec- 
ord put me to thinking that there must be some reason for 
this pen of Buff Wyandottes laying more than my other 
varieties, so I began to look for the cause. In the first place 
I found that they were better contented and that they made 
no effort to leave the pens, even though the gate were left 
open, while other varieties were constantly trying to find a 
place to get out, and if a gate were left open a minute they 
would make a break for it. They seemed to be larger than 
the Silver Wyandottes, but on weighing them I found that 
they were a few ounces lighter. Why should they look 
larger, was the question that next came up, and I found on 
close inspection that they are dressed warmer. Their plum- 
age is longer, which gives them the appearance of being 
larger than either the Whites or Silvers. 

Here, then, is the whole thing in a nutshell: They have 
the Cochin cross in them, and it has not only given them a 
better coat of feathers to protect them from the cold, but 
has given them a docile, contented disposition, which means 
much to the breeder who is trying to get every dollar he can 
out of his fowls from a commercial standpoint. I have no 
desire to boom this breed to the detriment of others, but I 
can surely give them a strong endorsement. After six years' 
breeding them I am free to say that I do not know of a sin- 
gle variety that would be a better investment for the ama- 
teur just starting in, one who wants to handle one variety, 
and who does not feel like taking up some of the older 
breeds where there is so much competition, than the Buff 
Wyandotte. Neither do I know of a variety that would 
make a belter cross on common fowls to increase the egg 
yield. 



SECRET OF SUCCESSFUL BREEDING. 



Danger of Crossing Strains — Selection of Dams Very Important — Careful Attention Necessary 

from Shell to Maturity. 



BY M. K. NORRIS. 



NTENSELY inleresting is the study of the art of 
breeding. Whiile we learn mucli from experi- 
ence (really our best teacher), still we can learn 
many things from reading that it would take us 
years to learn from experi^-nce. There are still 
many secrets concerning the breeding of thoroughbred 
poultry and one of the chief of these is how shall we mate 
to produce Buff Wyandottes that shall be of extra merit in 





^W^^ 



A I'KIZE-WINNING BUFF WVANDOTTK COCKEREL, BRKdJanD 

Owned by M. F. Norris. 



symmetry and color. The male bird at the head of the 
breeding pen should be symmetrical in shape, strong 
and vigorous — and he should be the offspring of a 
sire excelling in these points. Do not forget that 
the male bird has the greater influence on the color 
of the oif spring, especially of the cockerels. If fine 
colored males be desired it is necessary that the sire be of 
fine color. By mating a good sire to his own progeny the 
good breeding qualities of the parent bird will be 
retained in the resulting offspring. 

Color and other desirable qualities may be in- 
tensified by judicious inbreeding. It is equally true 
that if a mistake is made in the selection of the 
breeding stock undesirable qualities may be repro- 
duced in an exaggerated form. Many persons en- 
gaged in raising poultry think that they must in- 
troduce new blood from a different strain each 
year, and so they go backward instead of forward. 
Nearly every breeder's birds differ in style and 
plumage. When these types are crossed some of 
the offspring resemble the male and some resemble 
neither parent. The second season such breeders 
usually get a male of a still different type and mate 
him to the pullets of different types. The result is 
that they have no good birds among the offspring, 
hardly any two chicks resembling each other. If 
you once get what you want from a reliable breeder 
buy your new blood of him. 

The dam should possess a strong constitution, 
prolific laying qualities and large size. We look 
to the dam to impart size to the progeny. She must 
be good in color of plumage, legs and beak. The 
ear-lobes and comb must also receive careful atten- 
tion. Above all she should be symmetrical In 
shape. Many times the breeding qualities of the 
dam are overlooked or underrated, which is a great 
mistake. 

After carefully selecting your Buff Wyandotte 
pens it is essential that your birds receive proper 
care and that the progeny be closely watched and 
carefully tended from the time they leave the shell 
until they reach full maturity. This is another se- 
cret in successful breeding that apparently Is 
known to but few breeders. 



69 



BUFF WYANDOTTES. 



The Color Problem and How It Is Being Solved — Evenness of Plumage More Important Than Shade- 
Making Up Breeding Pens According to Double Mating System. 



BY C. S. MATTISON. 




' O MUCH has been written on the subject of Buff 
Wyandottes that what I might say on the sub- 
ject may be stale to readers. The origin of this 
variety is well known. My understanding is 
that some were made by crossing White Wyan- 
dottes and Buff Cochins, others by breeding out 
the foreign color of Rhode Island Reds, and another by 
breeding out the black in Golden Wyandottes. T am inclined 
to think the better strains of the present day each contains 
some of the blood of these three, but the present condition 
of the variety is, I presume, the most interesting, hence I 
shall devote myself largely to their present condition. In 
reviewing last season's largest and best exhibitions, we find 
that this variety outclassed all other Wyandotte varieties, 
except the Whites. In quality they have been improved 
more rapidly than any variety of poultry, so far as my 
knowledge goes, due without doubt to their combining the 
practical and fancy elements to a great extent. Their prac- 
tical qualities are considered to be the equal, and by some 
the superior, of all other Wyandotte varieties. Personally 
I have found them very satisfactory in every way. They are 
very good layers of brown eggs as a rule. They mature ear- 
ly and dress off nicely, without showing the undesirable 
pin-feathers. 

So much has been written regarding the shade of color 
mo.st desired that there is very little to add. Several weeks 
ago the National 'Wyandotte Club sent out some forty pieces 
of silk ribbon with a l)uff feather attached, requesting crit- 
icism of this color from as many prominent Buff Wyandotte 
breeders. From the replies received one can see that we 
all are very much nearer the same shade of color than was 
supposed, that the majority desires about the shade that is 
now being given preference here in the east. I am inclined 
to think that as a rule our western breeders are breeding a 
darker, or more on the red shade, yet their ideal color is 
about the same. Our club had these replies printed in cata- 
logue form, with a piece of the ribbon attached, making prac- 
tically the best thing of the kind yet brought out, as it en- 
ables all to see what the others' views are, and the piece of 
silk ribbon furnishes the color from which the criticisms are 
based, as well as something by which we can compare our 
fowls. 

It seems to me that the time is now opportune for us all 
to give less attention to shade of color, and more attention 
to the evenness throughout the entire plumage. Many of the 
past season's winners were good in shade of color, but were 
more or less uneven, the hackle and saddle perhaps varying 
in shade, the top of the wing being darker, and the breast 
being edged with white, or something of the kind. I rather 
think we should give preference to those who are most even- 
ly colored rather than such as are nearest the desired shade 
of color, even should such be quite a little darker. The ex- 
treme of this should be avoided, of course. Another point 
we should well consider at this time is shape. As a rule, we 
have size and can maintain it while improving the shape. 
Heretofore many ill-shaped birds have been awarded the 
prizes, preference being given to color. It seems to be a 
fact that no breeder has as yet a fixed type. There is too 
70 



much similarity between the Buff Plymouth Rocks and Wy- 
andottes. Very often we see much better Wyandottes in the 
Plymouth Rock class, and vice versa. 

It has been aptly stated that "Wyandottes travel on 
their shape, " and this is as it should be. The time is not 
far distant when shape will be given preference, as we find 
from year to year that the demand comes for first one thing 
and then another, as the fad changes. We have passed 
through the size fad and are now passing through the color 
fad, with its solid buff wing and tail, and soon the breeder 
who has mastered the shape problem and has well shaped 
birds to spare will find a ready market for them. With 
shape we could improve the combs, which really is a part of 
shape. The query is often made as to what may be termed 
solid buff tails and wings. I am frank to say I have never 
yet seen a perfectly clear tail, yet I have seen them so repre- 
sented. Clear buff wings are a reality, although not plenti- 
fully so. It is not necessary and I am not anxious for clear 
buff tails. We do not find it in the Cochins, and it is a ques- 
tion with me if we ever will find it in our Wyandottes. To 
be sure we can accomplish it, yet it is my idea we should 
work for other points in preference, such as before men- 
tioned, for instance. We should havo the outside or sickles 
and coverts the same color as the surface, and the main 
tail feathers largely buff of some color, but why sacrifice 
some other part of the surface to perfect that which is un- 
derneath '.' 

In outlining my system of mating or breeding, I realize 
that there are many little things necessarily left out, things 
that we have been so accustomed to that we do not realize 
their importance, the breeder must necessarily work with 
our system to secure the same results and to have equal 
success. However, there is nothing secret about it and 
scarcely anything original, it having been handed down to 
me from my brother, F. L. Mattison, who for many years 
has made a success in breeding the Silver variety. It can be 
termed double mating, which I understand means one way 
of mating to produce cockerels and another way to produce 
pullets. (lood exhibition cockerels are not expected from 
pullet matings, and vice versa. 

In our cockerel matings we select for the male side the 
very best exhibition bird possible (irrespective of his breed- 
ing if nece.ssary). Care should be taken that such a bird is 
really meritorious. All prize winners are not. I am sorry to 
say. 

On the female side would advise not more than four 
birds to a mating. First of all we select those that were 
sired by a meritorious bird, his strong qualities being those 
you wish to impress if possible in your present mating. An 
occasional cross of sire and daughter to fasten certain points 
is advisable. This of course also fastens undesirable quali- 
ties, which later may be eradicated in another mating equal- 
ly inbred, their inbred qualities being stronger than their 
defects. Bear in mind that the female side of these matings 
will, to a large degree, govern size and shape. One can use 
such females as show black in hackle in order to derive such 
benefit as they may possess in other qualities. Black in the 
hackle of males very seldom occurs, and I hardly think ever 



The wyandottes. 



71 



from the female side of the mating. Small under-sized fe- 
males are not used, to which we attribute our present large 
size and vigor of flock generally. 

In our pullet mating we select a male whose dam we 
know to be a first-class specimen, selecting such as are best 
in size and shape, with other points as good as possible, 
but size and shape given preference. In selecting females 
we use our exhibition or choicest birds, offsetting as far as 
possible the defects most prominent in the dam of the male. 
It is, of course, very advisable that all breeding birds should 
have a good under-color, their under-color being as near as 
possible the color of the surface and free from foreign color. 
Our experience has been that a lighter under-color shows 
a weakne.=!s of color. Black, while objectionable, is simply 
a foreign color rather than a lack of color, and the same 
can be said regarding these two colors in surface plumage. 
Of the two evils, the white is much the greater. 

In conclusion I desire, for the '"good of the order," to 
draw breeders' attention to the advisability of securing a 
judge or judges whom we may recommend as capable and 
honest, and in some way employ him or have him employed 
to judge the principal shows throughout the country, that 
the awards in one place may be along the same line as at 
another. These judges should be capable of furnishing a 
score card if desired and to be at the disposal of the exhib- 



itors, as far as is reasonable and just tor the employe 
so that those who pay the bills need feel no hesitation in 
asking questions. We, as Buff Wyandotte breeders, are 
"quite some people," and can well afford to take the "bull 
by Uie horns" in such a manner to the end that our Buff 
Wyandottes be judged as Buff Wyandottes, and that our 
choice of color be the judge's color, rather than have sev- 
eral different judges with as many different opinions rela- 
tive to color and Wyandotte characteristics. Now, in order 
to win at Chicago, for instance, we must know such and 
such a judge's preference, and at New York we must agajn 
be familiar with the judge's interpretation of the standard, 
and I am inclined to think that at the present time, every 
thing else being equal, the color question under the eastern 
and western judges would place a Chicago winner at least 
fifth at New York, and vice versa — simply because two dif- 
feient men interpret the standard in two different ways. 

It seems to nie we should have one or more judges whom 
we can instruct as the majority of the breeders may desire. 
If we decide upon a certain shade, that shade should be the 
shade by which all awards are made east and west, and now 
that we have practically decided upon a shade of color, we 
should in some way see that this color be considered by our 
judges the correct shade by which to place their awards. 

C. S. Mattison. 



THE BLACK WYANDOTTES. 



A Variety That Has Not Been Extensively Bred, But Which Possesses Most of the Attributes of the 

Other Varieties. 



BY THEO. HEVVES. 




HE Black Wyandottes are the least popular of 
the Wyandotte family. The color has something 
to do with their unpopularity, but that is not 
all. The main trouble is that the breeders of the 
Blacks have never pushed them as they should. 
You can not hide a variety of birds and make it popu- 
lar. You must let, the people know that you have it and 
let them know something of the good qualities of the 
birds. So far as utility is concerned, there is no variety in 
the Wyandotte family that leads the Blacks, and they will 
throw more show specimens than any of the other varieties. 
In some localities they are shown in sufficient numbers to 
warrant us in counting them in the varieties of Wyandottes, 
but in other sections of the country they are practically 
unknown and the few specimens that are shown are of poor 
quality and not calculated to attract any one who is looking 
for some variety to breed. 

I have discussed plans for bringing this variety more 
prominently to the front with several leading fanciers, but 
when the breeders of Black Wyandottes do not bestir them- 
selves it is hard for us to help them. If they will but make 
the effort they will find plenty of help in pushing this vari- 
ety to the front. We need some up-to-date cuts of this breed, 
either photographs or sketches, also true statements of their 
good qualities, both as egg and flesh producers. 

In shape the Black Wyandotte should be the same as 
Charts I and 2. They should be black in color, and must be 
free from any foreign color. The main trouble found in the 
color of the Black Wyandotte is the purple barring in neck, 
back, wings and tail. This is not a disqualification, but it is 
a serious defect, and the new standard cuts one point in 



every section in which it appears. There is another detect 
which is quite often overlooked, and that is the color of the 
feet. The standard says they shall be disqualified if the 
bottom of the feet is any color other than yellow. This sec- 
tion is often missed by the judges, and for that reason exhi- 
bitors get careless about it. It is well to take care of this in 
time and get just as much yellow in the shanks as possible. 
The time will come when the standard will call for solid yel- 
low legs, and the breeder who is careful along these lines 
now will receive a rich reward then. 

For defects of shape, comb and other sections, see 
description of the Silvers, as what is said of them, except in 
regard to the color, applies to the black varieties as well, 
and the defects would be discounted in the same proportion. 

Black Wyandotte Female. 

This variety being so little known, one seldom sees 
really good specimens, though the best that have been 
shown for years were on exhibition at the Chicago show of 
1898, and they seemed to awaken quite an interest. In color 
the females should be a rich greenish black in all sections. 
The shanks should be black, or black shading to willow or 
yellow; the bottoms of the feet must be yellow. The cut of 
one point in each section where purple barring appears 
applies to this breed the same as to any other black fowls, 
but I have found the Black Wyandottes very tree from this 
defect. Where the purple barring does appear it is usually 
in the neck, back and wings, and the discount in each sec- 
tion must be one point. For defects of shape of any section 
or color of eye, the cuts are the same as in any other variety 
of Wyandottes. Theo. Hewes. 




.-te,,..^e.Uo..U..o...,<Kn..^^^ 



somahing new," he sa ^.-^ Jhc abme^.^ _^._^,^_. p^^__..j^j var.ety.-F. L. Skuell. 



hich has already 



been "bred into" the Sil 



73 



GOLDEN AND SILVER PENCILED WYANDOTTES. 



Origin and History of the Cornell-Brackenbury Strain— The Two Varieties Described in Color and 

Markings— What of Their Future? 



BY EZRA CORNELI.. 




I HE great agricultural growth of America is rarely 
appreciated. Few people have any conception 
of the vast amount of virgin soil which the last 
quarter of a century has brought under cultiva- 
tion, or of the gigantic agricultural growth 
during that period. It is estimated that in the 
past decade alone there has been an increase of over 1,150,- 
000 farms and during the same time the farm wealth has 
expanded not less than $0,500,000,000. Congress has en- 
dowed agricultural colleges in every state; farming in all 
its branches is now being conducted according to more sci- 
entific principles, the result being that the annual yield of 
farm products is almost inconceivably large. 

Agriculture is composed of many branches any one of 
which may be considered an industry in itself. Of these 
many branches, that of poultry culture has Ijeen the most 
progressive and now yields the largest annual income. 
Twenty-five years ago a farm devoted exclusively to poultry 
was hardly known; artificial hatching and brooding had not 
yet come into general use and the poultry press was insig- 
nificant. To-day there are thousands of poultry farms; the 
manufacture of incubators and brooders is a large and in- 
creasing business and the poultry press shows a tremendous 
growth. 

This rapid and far-reaching development of the poultry 
interests is not without cause. There is an innate love of 
nature a fondness for animate things in the hearts of all 
good Americans showing itself in the great amount of at- 
tention paid to domestic fowls. The people who have thus 
interested themselves are commonly classed as "fanciers" 
and to them the poultry industry owes its rapid growth. To 
the fancier we are indebted for "Better poultry and more of 
it," for better poultry exhibits and more of them; for a bet- 
ter and larger poultry press; for better poultry appliances 
and for better methods in general. 

The fanciers are constantly bringing out new and better 
varieties of poultry. A few years ago Wyandottes were en- 
tirely unknown, whereas, to-day they are most popular and 
are being bred in a num'ber of different colors and with var- 
ious markings, Penciled Wyandottes, the subject of this 
sketch, being the last to appear. 

Penciled Wyandottes, though of recent origin, are al- 
ready well known throughout the civilized world, many ex- 
portations in both varieties having been made, especially to 
England, where they seem to have been more keenly appre- 
ciated than here in their home country. American breeders 
are loath tosee the real value of a striking new breed and are 
often unwilling to give fair prices for good birds. You may 
spend a vast deal of time and money to bring something 
and then be expected to supply would-be customers with 
your choicest specimens at a few dollars each. This is why 
many of our best Penciled Wyandottes are going to Eng- 
land. 



The Penciled Wyandotte Type. 
Penciled Wyandottes are in all respects true Wyan- 
dottes, having the compact, blocky body, with short, clean 
yellow shanks and a head with its red lobes and close fitting 
rose comb. 

The Wyandotte size and shape should receive more 
careful attention. Twelve pound Wyandotte males are alto- 
gether too common. These extremely large birds are never 
of good shape, are deficient in breasts, are slow to mature, 
are less active, less rugged, make poorer broilers, and the 
females are less prolific. The fault has come from the rul- 
ing of the American Poultry Association in their "Instruc- 
tions to Judges." When birds are otherwise equal they give 
the preference to the heavier birds, whereas the preference 
should be given to the bird which is nearer to standard 
weight. If this is not true, why not put the weight as heavy 
as possible? It has been agreed that eight and one-half 
pounds is the correct weight for a matured Wyandotte male 
and it is rarely that we see as small a bird as that in any of 
our leading exhibits. 

Golden Penciled Wyandotte Markings. 
The two varieties of Penciled Wyandottes are identical 
in all respects excepting color. The Goldens have a beau- 
tiful "black-red" combination, while the Silvers are a com- 
bination of black and white. The females of both varieties 
have triple penciled markings, the pattern of which con- 
forms to the outline of the feather, while the males of both 
varieties have a solid black bottom color and tail. The top 
color of the Golden male is red and the Silver is white, the 
hackle and saddle feathers of both being striped with black. 
The males have a solid color extending over the entire 
lower part of the body, with a striped saddle and hackle. 
The wing bows are red; the Hight feathers are black with an 
outer bay ed^'ing; the secondaries have a black inner and a 
bay outer web; the wing coverts are a greenish-black, which 
form a bar across the the folded wing. 

The Golden Penciled female is a rich mahogany bay 
with a triple penciled marking running parallel or nearly 
so with the outlines of the feathers. The nearer you come 
to getting every feather well penciled, the finer bird you 
will have. The penciling is, however, less distinct on the 
flufi and thighs, due to the looseness of the feathers in these 
sections. The hackle feathers may be and frequently are 
striped like the hackle feathers of the males. The primary 
wing feathers are a grayish-brown, with light brown pen- 
ciling on the outer web. The tail feathers are black except- 
ing the first two, which should be penciled. 

Silver Penciled Wyandotte Markings. 
The Silver Penciled male is like the Golden in markings, 
having the black tail, breast, fiufC and thighs. The head and 
back are white with a white hackle and saddle, the hackle 
and saddle feathers being striped with black. The wing 
bows are white; the coverts are a greenish-black, forming 

73 



74 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



a bar across the wing when folded; the primary wing feath- 
ers are black, edged with white on outer web. 

The Silver Penciled female has a white or a very light 
gray ground, distinctly penciled with a triple marking of 
black running parallel or nearly so with the outlines of the 
feathers. The great beauty of these birds depends on get- 



shanks and skin, it we may call it a sacrifice. The yellow 
shank and skin is considered a Wyandotte characteristic. 
It is a useless fad which sprung up in the Boston market 
and is a fad which the French and English do not recog- 
nize. Personally I am neither for it nor against it. It is 
all right where it can be had naturally, but a yellow shank 
> 




Plate No. II— Feathers Plucked from a Partridge (Golden Penciled in Mr. Cornell's Article) Wyandotte Female and Male. 

Fe.ITHER No. 1 IS FROM H.iCKLE OF M.ALE ILLUSTRATED IN COLOR PL.\TE; NO. 2 LS FROM THE C.4PE; No. 3 FROM RE.1.R OF BACK OR 

Upper S..\ddle; No. 4 from S-\ddle; Nos. 5, 6 and 7 from Hackle of Sister to the Male. 

[It will be noticed that in placing the numbers upon this plate the artist assumed that the feathers would be presented to our readers 
with the web downwards. We crave his pardou in differing with him.— Rd.]. 



ting a strong contrast of color. The tendency is to a light 
gray ground with darker penciling. This is less attractive 
and every effort should be made to get clearness of color, 
a clean black and white, like that of the Hamburg. To 
bring this color to its greatest state of perfection, it will 
probably be necessary to sacrifice the yellow color of tlie 



and skin are entirely out of place with a plumage of the 
Silver Penciled Wyandotte nature. The yellow pigment 
will not confine itself to the skin, but will extend to the 
feathers and destroy the absolute white which is so desira- 
ble. The hackle may be either striped or penciled. The wing 
primaries and secondaries are black edged with white on 




PARTRIDGE WYANDOTTES 

Cock and Hen. First prize winners at Boston and New York. The property of K/.ra Cornell, Ithaca. X. V. 



Copjriphtcd lS9n. 
By the Rolialile Poultry JonrriBl Piiblieliing Co.. tiuimy. III. 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



75 



the outer web. The tail feathers are black, excepting the 
two main feathers, which are penciled on the upper web. 

The Origin of the Penciled Wyandottes. 

The Penciled Wyandottes, like all other varieties, are 



were chosen as the foundation stock, their blood was min- 
gled, selecting and rejecting in the offspring such traits as 
were desired or undesired until the wished for result was 
obtained. A breed of fowls thus made cannot be considered 
"thoroughbred" until it has been bred for a sufficient length 
the result of cross breeding. Certain old standard varieties of time to thoroughly fix its characteristics, until the type 




Plate No. I— Feathers Plucked From a Partridge ("Golden Penciled" in Mr. Cornell's Article) Wyandotte Female. 

Feathers Nos 1 2 and .! are from the Hacklic; Nos. 4. 5 and 6 from Back: Nos. 7, S, 9. 10 a.nd 11 from Shoulder Down 

v:nde;r Ure.^st to Thigh, 

fit will be noticed that in placing the numbers on this plate the artist assnnieil that the feathers wonid be presented to our readers 
vith the web downwards. We crave his pardon in differing with him.— Ed.] 



76 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



is well established and the breeding tendency is all in one 
direction, and there is no longer an inclination to revert to 
one or another of the types used in the original process. 
The influence of some remote ancestor is forever asserting 
itself and will produce unlooked for results unless you have 
breeding birds of the same make-up for a number of genera- 
tions and there are no unlike traits for them to revert to. 

Birds are, however, never exactly alike; each has indi- 
viduality; there is a difference in their habits, in their in- 
telligence and in their disposition as well as in their color 
and markings, in their types, in their egg-producing ten- 
dency, and there is a vast difference in their abilities to 
transmit such traits to their offspring. It is surprising how 
strong the blood of some birds is, and how it will, after 
lying dormant for a number of generations, again assert 
itself. An observing breeder will detect traits of birds used 
years before, cropping out in his young stock. This shows 
the great necessity of knowing the ancestry of your breeders 
and of never breeding from chance specimens. It is true 
that "like will produce like;" a bird wil not inherit traits 
which never existed — he may inherit all his traits from his 
immediate ancestors, but he will inherit all his traits from 
ancestors and if these ancestors had all been of the same 
make-up you could tell almost to a certainty what to ex- 
pect. 

History of the Golden Penciled Wyandottes. 

Mr. George H. Brackenbury, of Auburn, N. Y., was, I be- 
lieve, the first to conceive the idea of the Penciled Wyan- 
dottes and the first to begin the work of producing them. 
Mr. Brackenbury made his first cross in the spring of 1S89. 
His first mating was a Golden Laced Wyandotte male and a 
Partridge Cochin female. This mating, as I have it from Mr. 
Brackenbury, produced some females with double laced 
markings. In 1890 he mated one of these pullets back to her 
Golden Laced Wyandotte sire. The following year Golden 
Penciled Hamburg blood was introduced, also more Part- 
ridge Cochin blood. Mr. Byron D. Sarr, a Cochin breeder, 
became interested with Mr. Brackenbury and worked with 
him for two or three years. My first interest in the Pen- 
ciled Wyandottes dated back to the winter of '93 and '94. Mr. 
E. O. Theim was interested in them prior to that date, but 
I believe that he took his cue from Mr. Brackenbury. In 
the early days Mr. Theiin certainly bought some of Mr. 
Brackenbury's surplus stock, some of which, as he wrote 
Mr. Brackenbury, he turned over to Mr. McKeen. One thing 
certain is that there has not been a strain of Golden Pen- 
ciled Wyandottes started in America that has not gone to 
George H. Brackenbury for help, whereas there it not a drop 
of blood from any other strain in the Brackenbury, or as it 
is now known, the Cornell-Brackenbury strain. 

In the spring of '94 work on the Penciled Wyandottes 
was begun at the Valleyview Farm (Ithaca, N. Y.). The 
foundation matings were made for a strain of Goldens and 
also for a strain of Silvers. A year later the birds of Mi-. 
Sarr were purchased and the writer then became associated 
with Mr. Brackenbury. At this time, or soon afterwards, 
I was also offered, through Mr. Brackenbury, the entire 
stock of Mr. Thiem, but the sample feathers sent were not 
attractive. They were considered by us to be inferior to 
what we already had. 

History of the Silver Penciled Wyandottes. 

Given the Golden Penciled Wyandottes.a Silver Penciled 
variety was bound to follow sooner or later. This variety 
may have been contemplated for some time, though nothing 
was done until fate, that invisible actor which so strongly 
influences every act of men's lives, brought about a combi- 



nation of circumstances which started the ball rolling. Mr. 
Brackenbury sent some Buff Laced feathers to the well 
known poultry artist, Franklane L. Sewell, who, in his turn, 
took the feathers to the Madison Square Garden show in the 
winter of '93 and '94 and there showed them to the writer. 
These were the circumstances which resulted in starting 
work on the Silver Penciled Wyandottes. I had never met, 
had in fact never heard of Mr. Brackenbury up to that time, 
but the novelty of the Buff Laced feathers led me to visit 
Mr. Brackenbury, which I did immediately after the New 
York show. The Buff Laced Wyandottes proved unattrac- 
tive, but the beavitiful Golden Penciled Wyandottes which 
Mr. Brackenbury was then at work upon paid me for the 
journey. 

During this visit Penciled Wyandottes were the leading 
topic of conversation and the plans were then laid for be- 
ginning work on Silver Penciled Wyandottes. Mr. Brack- 
enbury first mated a Dark Brahma hen to a Golden Penciled 
Wyandotte male, producing Silver females and Silver males 
with red wings. The first mating at the Valleyview Farm 
was a Dark Brahma and a Silver Penciled Hamburg female 
to a Silver Laced Wyaiulutte male. The following year the 




showing Wing of Silver Penciled Wyandotte Pullet Illustrated on Page 77. 

Wyandotte-Hamburgs were mated with the Wyandotte- 
Brahmas, producing chicks which were in blood one-half 
Wyandottes, one-fourth Dark Brahma and one-fourth Ham- 
burg. 

During this time Mr. Brackenbury had produced some 
very good females from his Dark Brahma and Golden Pen- 
ciled Wyandotte crosses, but the males all showed a great 
deal of red, and the females, though equal both in color and 
markings to many of the Dark Brahmas seen in the show 
rooms, were not what we desired. In '97 we had better pen- 
ciling on Silver Penciled Wyandotte females than I had ever 
seen up to that time on any Golden Penciled Wyandotte. 
Since then we have worked hard for a better color and have 
made good progress in that direction. We shall not. how- 
ever, be perfectly satisfied until we have clearly defined 
markings of black and white. A Silver Penciled Wyandotte 
with this strong contrast of color will be an ideal American 
fowl. 

The Law of Production. 

Studies in nature always offer the most interesting field 
for investigation. The ways of nature are curious and intri- 
cate and will never be completely fathomed by the human 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



77 



mind. Whether our work is with animal, bird, insect or 
plant life, it is alike interesting. To me the study of bird 
life as we have it domesticated is a constant source of 
pleasure. No man knows what there is in the organism of 
birds which fixes the color and markings. Take for example 
the Silver Penciled Wyandottes. Why should the males and 
females be so strikingly different in markings? It is prob- 
ably due to the fact that the color of the females of all 
ground birds — birds which nest and run on the ground — has 
been subdued by nature to a marked degree of inconspicu- 
ousness to protect them against their enemies. 

The Silver Penciled Wyandotte is a most modest com- 
bination of black and white. Her colors are always laid on 
in alternate stripes, conforming in shape to that of the 
feather. Why should not her colors form themselves as on a 
laced, barred or spangled feather? Nobody knows. We 
know nothing about how these things are governed and it is 
not necessary that we should. All we know is that the law 
of nature is reproduction, and with this in mind we go 
ahead. 

To produce what we desire we choose specimens for 
breeding which are as nearly as possible what we wish. We 
must know to a certainty the plumage of the male which 
corresponds to that of the female. If our birds are not ex- 
actly what is desired we can gradually approach nearer to 
it by careful selection, a slight variation always being pos- 
sible, but if any radical change is desired it can be best ob- 
tained by the introduction of entirely different blood, some- 
thing that will destroy the tendency to fix characeristics. 

We herewith present photographic reproductions show- 
ing the difference in markings of a pair of Silver Penciled 
Wyandottes, brother and sister, prize winners at the Pan- 
American Exposition. The photograph of the cockerel is 
fine and shows his black breast, tail and lower body color, 
striped saddle and hackle, white wing bow, black wing bar 
and white triangular wing bay. His sister shows an en- 
tirely different marking. 




By close inspection you can see the distinct triple pen- 
ciledmarkings,whichareso distinct that nearly all who have 
seen the original photograph thought it was taken from a 
drawing rather than from a living bird. It is the same pul- 
let In the hand with wing spread, showing the neat penciled 
edging of the wing flights. The breeze disturbed the feath- 




A Pan-American Winner — Silver Penciled Wyandotte Cockerel. 
Bred and Owned by Ezra Cornell. 



A Pan-American Winner — Silver Penciled Wyandotte Pullet. 
Bred and Owned by Ezra Cornell. 

ers on the shoulders and back, somewhat blurring the mark- 
ings, but to the right of the head, where the wind did not 
strike, you will notice the sharp, clean-cut markings, which 
should delight the eye of every true fancier. 

A number of prominent poultry experts have expi'essed 
themselves as believing that the Silver Penciled Wyandottes 
possess the combination of qualities which will eventually 
make them the most popular variety in America. If this 
belief is to be realized the standard must be made to fit the 
variety instead of the variety being made to fit some unnat- 
ural and arbitrary standard, as is unfortunately the case 
with some of the older varieties. Do not demand a clean 
black fiuff on the male or a well penciled fluff on the female, 
or rich yellow legs. Develop the plumage to its greatest 
perfection from single matings and let the shanks come 
whatever color they will. Then make the standard to fit 
the birds and we will have a variety to bank on. 

[Since the above article was written both varieties of 
Wyandottes under discussion have been admitted to the 
American Standard of Perfection, one under the name of 
Partridge Wyandottes, the other being named Silver Pen- 
ciled Wyandottes. — Ed.] 

Ezra Cornell. 



PENCILED WYANDOTTES. 



One Variety Admitted to the Standard, the Oilier Knocking at the Door — Origin. Characteristics and 
Merits — They are Destined to Become General Favorites. 



BY THEODORE HEWES. 



INOTE. — Since tliis article was written the Sih'er variety has been admitted to llie Standard nnder the name of SiU'er Penciled Wyandottes. — Kd-1 




orites. 



E know almost nothing of the origin of more 
than half the varieties of ponltry which we 
to-rlu^ class as standard-bred. We know but 
little of the origin of even our American fav- 
From almost the beginning it has been claimed 



^/ 



¥t^. 



that the Barred Rock had its origin in a cross of the 
Black Java and the 
American D o m i- 
nique. Up to within 
a few years this was 
accepted almost as a 
fact, but now some 
of the foremost 
poultry men a r e 
claiming that neith- 
er of these breeds is 
entitled to credit as 
a prirt of the basis 
of our foremost va- 
riety, a few even as- 
serting that t h f 
Barred Rocks were 
bred and exhibited 
before ett'her the 
Javas or Dominiques 
were known. This 
shows how little 
positive knowledge 
we have ot the ori- 
gin of br'^eds and 
varieties. 

The same uncer- 
tainly prevails 
concerning the ori- 
gin of the Wyan- 
dotte. While it is 
held that a cross of 
the Dark Brahma 
and Silver Spangled 
Hamburg produced 
the Silver Laced 
Wyandotte, there is 
no evidence to sub- 
stantiate 'this. At 
the time of their in- 
troduction the ap- 
pearance of the va- 
riety led one to be- 
lieve that the cross 
in question made the 
new-comer. The speculation in regard to this was such that 
to test this claim, a cross of the two breeds was made. This 
cross, while producing nothing which could be called a Wy- 
andotte, proved one point to my satisfaction, namely, that 
there is Dark Brahma blood in the Silvers. If Hamburg 
blood was used it had been modified previously by some 
cross. What the cross was I am not prepared to say, but it 
was undoubtedly some fowl with a short back, deep breast 
ana compact body, inasmuch as the pure Hamburg when 

78 







mated to even the Silver Laced Wyandotte took away all 
the Wyandotte shape. 

In my own experience in breeding Silver Laced Wyan- 
dottes, covering the period from 1881 to the present time, 
thei'e has not been a year when some specimen has not given 
positive evidence of the presence of Brahma blood. The Sil- 
ver Laced Wyan- 
dotte, no matter 
how well bred, if al- 
lowed to mate at 
will for two genera* 
tions, will, to some 
extent, revert to the 
Dark Brahma c'har- 
acteri.sitics. The 
Brahma penciling 
will come to the sur- 
face on the females, 
while the lacing on 
the breasts of the 
males will begin to 
darken. This shows 
how strong in any 
breed is the tenden- 
cy toward reversion. 
This tendency is due 
to the fact that in- 
stead of allowing na- 
ture to make a stan- 
dard for poultry, we 
lose patience and at- 
tempt to improve 
upon her. The Silver 
Laced Wyandottes, 
though the oldest of 
the family, are, 
however, the most 
difficult to breed. 
The addition of out- 
side blood, to pro- 
d u c e the Golden 
Laced variety, at 
once overcame the 
preponderance o I 
Asiatic blood. The 
result ot this was 
that we soon had 
the Goldens well in 
advance of the Sil- 
vers in markings 
and fixedness of type. 



It is now nearly ten years since the originator first disclosed to me his secret of "Golden 
Penciled Wyandottes" and sent me a number of feathers from some of the first production of his 
experimental crosses. We were then just bidding good-bye to our friends on this side for an ex- 
tended tri]) among English fanciers. Now that the variety has taken its place among standard 
tj'pes we look to see it become widely popular. The above specimen owned by Mr. T. F. McGrew, 
illustrates the perfect shape already attained by this variety-. — V . L. Skvvi-:i.i,. 



The Golden Penciled or Partridge Wyandottes. 

Recently breeders of the Goldens added the Penciled or 
Partridge variety. Already the females of this late creation 
of the fanciers' art have a fine mahogany color to a degree 
better than that found on any other of our standard varie- 
ties. The per cent of strictly well marked fowls in this va- 
riety is in excess of that from the best mated strains of Sil- 
vers. This shows conclusively that the latter crosses have 
taken away the greater part of the Brahma blood, and left 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



79 



wit!i the fancier a variety tliat is pliable, so to speak; one 
that responds quickly to intelligent mating. 

When the new Wyandotte had met the requirements for 
admission to the standard a controversy arose over the 
name of the new candidate for popular favor. Numerous ar- 
dent discussions appeared in the poultry press, and the 
claims of breeders tor priority as the "originator" were in- 
teresting to the fancy at large. The breeders of the west 
favored the name of "Partridge" Wyandotte, laying stress 
on the similarity of the penciling to that of the Partridge 
Cochin. The eastern breeders favor the name of "Penciled," 
basing their claim on the ground that the birds have not 
the true partridge markings of our wild birds, but have pen- 
ciled feathers. 

At the Chicago meeting of tlie American I^iultry Asso- 
ciation, .laniiary. 1901, this variety was admitted to the 




The Partridge Penciled Wyandottes have enjoyed a growing popnlarity 
in Kngland; the first silver penciled birds we have heard of being exhib- 
ited this year. It is expected that the .Silver Penciled variety, which is 
fully as old as the fioldens. will he admitted to the standard when the 
American Poultry Association convenes at Charleston this wintet. The 
above specimen is a grand Silver pullet owned by Mr. T. K. .Mctirew. — l-. L. 
Sewf.i.l. 

standard under the name of "Partridge Wyandottes." The 
admission of the variety under this name did not satisfy the 
eastern breeders, and even now they refuse to exhibit their 
stock as "Partridge" Wyandottes. Several of the foremost 
fanciers to-day advertise them as "Penciled," and declare 
that they always will despite the action of the American 
Poultry Association. 



THE ORIGIN OF SILVER PENCILED 
DOTTE5. 



WYAN- 



Mr. Cornell, not being satisfied with 'the Golden Pen- 
ciled, or Partridge Wyandotte, and seeing the tendency of 
the Silver Laced variety to revert to the original cross, con- 
ceived the idea of establishing a new variety with silver 
penciling similar to that of the Dark Brahma. To accom- 
plish this he had to rely not upon good luck in experiment- 



ing, but upon careful, intelligent mating. Three distinct 
varieties were used and judiciously crossed. One was among 
the oldest in the American standard, another has been rec- 
ognized and bred for twenty yeare. The result of such a 
cross was a fowl whose origin none could question, a fowl 
whose inherited merits uone could disregard. 

We do not know what success attended the first two 
crosses of these established varieties, but we do know that 
success was dependent upon care and forethought. With 
carelessness and guess work the result would have been dif- 
ferent. Mr. Cornell's method was to select from each cross 
the fowls showing most strongly the characteristics of the 
desired variety, and then mate these for another season. 
For three years he pursued this course, with the result that 
he now has a Silver Penciled Wyandotte which far out- 
ranks the Dark Brahma in color and is almost equal to 
any of the standard Wyandottes in shape. The females of 
no other variety of Wyandottes approach even; closely in 
beauty those of the Silver Penciled. Especially is this true 
of o+her Wyandottes when compared with Mr. Cornell's 
birds. The neat, steel gray penciling, the compact, clean 
cut, symmetrical form, the rose comb and yellow legs, com- 
bine to make the new hen a marvel of beauty. The male, 
too. must not be passed by. as he equals in appearance any 
other Wyandotte. 

Mr. Cornell prepared a standard for it, and asked the 
American Poultry Association to accept this handsome fowl 
as the Silver Penciled Wyandotte. We are confident the 
Association will pass favorably on this application, 
for of all the varieties admitted to the standard within 
the last fifteen years we know of none which has a better 
foundation, nor of one which can point with more pride 
to its origin. Theo. Hewes. 



Note. — Mr. Hewes, in the course of the preceding article, 
states that "Mr. Cornell, not being satisfied with the 
Golden Penciled Wyandotte, * * * and seeing the ten- 
dency of the Silver Laced variety to revert to the original 
cross, conceived the idea of establishing a variety with silver 
penciling." Mr. Hewes has been somewhat misled in this. 
From the first I have been well satisfied with the Goldens, 
and I have not had any experience with the Silver Laced 
Wyandottes. therefore am not informed as to a tendency on 
their part to revert to the foundation stock. I was induced 
to take up the work of making a Silver Penciled Wyandotte 
because I liked the Goldens. The first cross made between 
a Silver Laced Wyandotte male, having a plumage approach- 
ing that of the Dark Brahma, and a Dark Brahma hen as 
strong in penciling as could be had, failed to produce pullets 
with even a fairly good penciling. The Silver Laced Wyan- 
dotte undoubtedly has a tendency to degenerate from the 
clean-centered laced feather, but it is doubtful if the ten- 
dency is to revert to a penciled feather. Certainly the 
tendency is not strong. 

It is also a question whether or not Mr. Hewes is correct 
in thinking that the Golden Laced Wyandottes were ad- 
vanced to a greater state* of perfection than the Silver 
Laced on account of their having less of the Asiatic blood 
(penciled blood). It will be found that it is easier to get 
a clean-cut penciling on a Partridge Cochin or a Golden 
Penciled Wyandotte than on a Dark Brahma or Silver Laced 
Wyandotte. There seems to be a much stronger tendency 
for black and white to run together than for brown and 
black. The writer is not prepared to give any reason for 
this, but experience has clearly demonstrated it to be a 
fact that clearly defined markings, no matter what the 
pattern, can be more easily gotten in the brown and black 
than in the white and black. Ezra Cornell. 



THE PARTRIDGE WYANDOTTE. 



So Called From the Resemblance of Their Plumage to That of the Partridge Cochins— They ere Wyandotte in Shape with the 

Plumage of the Partridge Cochin— Origin—Description . 



BY W. A. DOOLITTLE. 




[HE latest a'ddition to the Wyandotte family is the 
Partridge Wyandottes. The western strain was 
originated, as were the Goldens, by that true and 
honest fancier, Joseph McKeen, of Omro, Wiscon- 
sin, and his co-worker was E. 0. Thiem, of Deni- 
son, low.a. They were first introduced by an article and 
illustration in the October, 1894, number of the Poultry 
Monthly, in which Mr. McKeen stated that he had been 
breeding with this object in view for a number of years, they 
making the first cross with this point in view in 1888. 

I had for some years bred the Golden and Buff varieties, 

getting eggs and 
stock from Mr. Mc- 
Keen from time to 
time, as I believed 
■his to be the best 
and the original 
strain of the Gold- 
en. He did not orig- 
inate any strain of 
Buffs, but as an hon- 
est fancier he en- 
deavored to breed 
the best, and with 
his strain I man- 
aged to win a lion's 
share of prizes at 
the leading western 
• shows. 

Soon after Mr. Mc- 
Keen's death, in 
1896, I bought from his widow some of his choicest Goldens 
and Buffs, including the cock. Major McKeen, which won 
first for me at the great Mid-Continental and twice at Kan- 
sas and Nebraska state shows. I also took up the breeding 
of his strain of Partridge Wyandottes, obtaining them from 
Mrs. McKeen, and I now have in my yards a male and 
female of this variety that came direct from his yards. The 
female was one of his own raising. 

In my opinion this beautiful variety has a great future, 
as the Partridge Wyandottes now breed as true as any of 
their sister varieties, and in fact are better in symmetry, 
have larger and better bone, are free' from feathers on 
shanks and toes, and all of them have the true Wyandotte 
comb, bright red ear-lobes and yellow legs. I speak of the 
McKeen strain. 

In selecting breeding stock, either male or female, you 
should first see that they have the true Wyandotte shape, 
clean yellow legs and bright bay eyes. The ear-lobes and 
wattles should be bright red, free from white, and above all 
do not permit in your breeding yards of any variety of Wy- 
andottes, excepting the white, a bird having white in Its 
plumage, for it will be more abundant in the offspring and 

._ 80 




Partridge Wyandotte Cock. "Kansas Boy." 
First at Chicago and St. Louis. 1900. Owned 
and bred by W. A. Doolittle. 



once it is introduced it is almost impossible to breed it out. 
As so much depends on the male bird, great care should 
be taken in his selection. After satisfying yourself that he 
has the proper symmetry and that he has a good, full saddle 
rising with a con- 
cave sweep to the 
tail, which should 
not be too large or 
carried too high — 
then see that he has 
a broad, deep, well- 
rounded breast, in 
color greenish- 
black, free from 
brown or red, with a 
slate under-color. If 
there is red or 
brown in the breast 
of the male bird he 
will throw pullets in 
color and markings 
similar to a Brown 
Leghorn pullet ami 
brown will predomi- 
nate in the breast 
color of his male 
birds. If possible 
choose a bird which 
as a chick had a 

well-penciled breast like that of the females and which had 
richly laced coverts. Such a male will produce well-laced 
females, and if his breast as a matured bird is glossy black 
free from red or brown, his males will also be properly 
marked. In this way good males and females are obtained 
from a single mating. 




First Prize Partridge Wyandotte Cockerel 
at Kansas City Mo., January, 1901. Bred, 
owned and exhibited by W. A. Doolittle. 




Luciel won first as pullet at Chicago. 1901, and 
first as hen at the same show in 1^2. i^Owned 
by W. A. Doolittle. ■- ~~ 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



81 



His neck should be short and well-arched with a large 
flowing hackle, in color red or orange red, with a distinct 
black stripe extending down each feather and tapering to a 
point near its extremity. His back should be short, broad 
and flat at the shoulders — in color dark red. The saddle 




This half tone illustration is of the first prize Partridge Wyandotte 
pullet at Chicago last season and shows by the feathers taken from her. 
the most excellent markings of plumage. She was bred and is owned 
by W. A. Doolittle. 

should be red or orange red with a black, stripe down the 
center of each feather. The fluff should be slightly black; 
the primaries black on the inner web with a bay edge on the 
outer web; the secondaries black on the inner web and rich 
bay on the outer web. terminating with a black end on each 
feather. The wing coverts should be greenish black with a 
well-defined bar across the wing when folded. The tail 



should be black, the sickles being of medium length and 
glossy black, the tail coverts being a glossy, greenish black 
and they may be tinged with red. The comb should be of 
good Wyandotte shape, and I should not sacrifice other good 
points merely for the sake of the comb so long as it is rose. 
The best Golden Wyandotte cock as a breeder that I ever 
saw had a very bad comb. It was large and laid over to 
one side, but this defect was never transmitted to his off- 
spring. 

The females should be as well laced as possible, with a 
bright red or an orange red hackle having a broad black 
stripe extending down each feather and tapering to a point 
near the extremity. The black stripe in the lower neck 
feathers should be penciled with reddish brown. The plum- 
age of the back should be abundant, under-color slate and 
the web of the feathers reddish brown, distinctly penciled 
with reddish black, the lines of penciling in all parts of the 
body conforming as nearly as possible to the shape of the 
feathers. The breast and body feathers should be marked 
the same as those of the back except they should be penciled 
with black, the lacing to come well up to the throat. The 
fluff should be reddish brown in color, irregularly penciled 
with dark brown. The wings should be of the same color 
as those of the male, excepting the coverts, which should be 
the same color and have the same markings as the feathers 
of the breast. The tail should be well spread at the base 
and black in color, except two or more of the highest main 
tail feathers, which should be penciled. The tail coverts 
should be well penciled, similarly to those of the breast. 

The standard weights are the same for all Wyandotte 
varieties: Cockerel, seven and one-half pounds; cock, eight 
and one-half pounds; pullet, five and one-half pounds; hen, 
six and one-half pounds. I exhibited the Partridge Wyan- 
dottes at Washington, D. C; Chicago, 111.; Davenport, Iowa; 
Kansas and Nebraska state and other shows. As early as 
1898 they were a new variety of Wyandottes and I wished to 
give fanciers an opportunity to see them, and it was my 
pleasure to be one to assist in getting them admitted to the 
standard at the Chicago meeting of the A. P. A. in 1901 as 
Partridge Wyandottes. 




We present herewith an illustration of a group of Partridge Wyandotte feathers from birds of this 
variety bred by W, A. Doolittle and P,. O. Thiem. 



DIREICXORY OF 



RELIABLE WYANDOTTE BREEDERS 



ARTHUR F. HARTMAN, Nappanee, Ind. 

White Wyiindotli- Si.oL-inlist. Always write to a spei-ialist 
in the breed you want. I breed the "Kusine.ss Hen" strain 
of prize-winninj; stoel;; praetieal and fancy. Stoeli and 
eggs for sale. 



T. E. ORB, Beaver, Pa. 

I'niliriclor of Beaver JlUl Farm, (he hnnie of Orr's Silv<n- 
Wyandottes, line bied since ISSl. Greatest egg machines 
and prize winners. Pioneer breeder of Partridge Wyan- 
dotles; also of While \\'yandottes. 



ROSS C. H. HALLOCK, St. Louis, Mo. 

"Quality" Whits Wyaudottes. Wiuuers at the Great Chi- 
cago Show, January 1!I02, 1st and 4th iniUets, lind cock 
and 2nd pen. Also specials for best shaped female, best 
colored male, best M'hite Wyandotte pullet, and silver cup 
for largest and best display of White Wyaudottes. This in 
competition with 24U White Wyaudottes in single entries 
and 17 pens. Stock is all farm raised, strong and vigorous, 

JULIUS BACHMAN, Kausas City, Mo. 

Silver Wyandottes. up-to-date. Fine stock tor sale. Eggs 
in season, ?3 per 15. 

ARTHUR G. DUSTON, Box 29, Marlboro, Mass. 

Rose Lawn Poultry Farm. Jfor years recoguized as the 
fountain from which the best Hocks of White Wyaudottes 
in the country are built up. Show birds a specialty. Breed- 
ers for sale the year round. Eggs for hatching. 

RELIABLE INCUBATOR & BROODER CO., Box A 104, 

Quincy, 111. 

l!cli;ible Strain of Silver Laced and While AVyandotles. 
Ten pens of ea(!h variety; lowest .score Silver l.aced Wyan- 
dotles, mated, 90 points; \\'hile \S'y;indolles. iC! points. 
Stock and eggs for sale. 

EDGAR BRIGGS, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 

Pioprielor lIiulsDii KiM'r Poultry l'"arni. Speihilty bn'cd- 
ers of White Wyaudottes exclusively. Originators ami 
breeders of the Vaidiee strain. None better. Largest 
bi-eeders of high class slock in New York. Eggs a spe- 
cialty. Stock for sale .-it all tiiues. Catalogue free. 

OTTO 0. WILD, Bentoii Harbor, Mich. 

I'.reeds While Wyandotles of e.\ee]itional merit, and guar- 
antees them to please [inrehasers. 

FRED E. PILE POULTRY FARM CO., Cleveland, Ohio. 
White Wyandottes. We have ^2 acres <levoted to White 
Wyaiulottes. We l)reed lor the show room, but never 
lose sight of their practical qualities. Our birds are noted 
for correct size an<l shape, whiteness of plumage and fine 
yellow legs,. Pile's White Wyandotles are among the rich- 
est prize-winner proilncing lines in the country. Corre- 
spoudenco a pleasure. 



I. K. FELCH & SON, Natick, Mass. 

I'heir White A\ yaiidottes are above stamlard weight. Lay 
dark shelled eggs and win prizes for their patrons. Eggs, 
Sf.4 liir 1!"), jRS for l.V ."fLj per 105. Fowls or eggs are ex- 
eellel |iy no olhej' strain. 



ORIOLE SPRINGS FARM, Twin Lakes, Kenosha Co., Wis. 

The leading Partridge V.'yandotle farm of th.' world. We 
lead; others follow. Alake no mistake iu plaein.!; your onlers 
for stock and eggs. Write for free illustrated circular. 

JOHN COOLIDGE, Galesburg, 111. 

White Wyandottes. "The best in the west," proven by our 
records at the leading shows. Single birds, )f2 ui); pairs, 
.f.".50 uji; trios, .^SS up. Satisfactiim lU' money back less 
express. 

A. C. HAWKINS, Lancaster, Mass. 

P>reeds the winners at America's greatest shows. Barred, 
White and Buff P. Kocks. Silver, White and Buff Wyan- 
dottes. For 2.5 years we have been breeding the very best. 

A. & E. TARBOX, Box 1, Yorkville, 111. 

North Side Poultry Yards. Silver, Buff and White Wyan- 
dottes. Choice stock for sale. No eggs for hati-hiug. 
Agents for Spratt's patent i)Oultry food ;ind mi'at. Send 
foi' clrt-nlar giving winnings ;ind i)riees, 

L, R. HODGES, Pittsfield, Mass. 

Paddock Farm. Partriilge Wyandottes exclusively. Won 
blue ribbons and 2". other prizes. 1001-1002, New York, 
Boston, and Pan- American exhibitiiuis, on only ".7 entries, 
.Imlges Atherton, Dreveustedt an<l MaGrew, ,\ll line-bred 
from prize winners, .■mil pedigree of each bii'd reeoriled. 
Show and bi-eeding birds for sale singly or in [lairs or trios. 



A, FAMARISS, Beverly, N. J. 

Lier'ilei- oC Wyaudottes of highesl lype. White AVyau- 
doKes thai .ire snow wliite, !<ilver l.ai-ed — splendiilly pen 
ciled. 'i^iaie to standaril, \igoriMis fowls, I'l-izc winuei-s 
Eggs and stock for sale. 



THAYER & HIGGINS, Barnstable, Mass. 

While 'W.vandotles that ai'C winners, ami have pedigrees 
to back their breedin.g. Second best hen .-ind three specials, 
Boston, 1002, While. Idocky, si long in eye and comb. 
Slock anil eggs for sale. 

ROWLAND G. BUFFINTON, Fall River, Mass. 

Bi'ceder of Buff and Cartridge Wyaudolles. Stock for 
sale. Eggs in seascm. Send for circular. 

MAHASKI POULTRY COMPANY, St. Louis, Mo. 

Breed. Ts of Viking straiLi of White Wyamlottes. Eggs .f2. 
I'arm at Bom-hoii, Mo, We solicit correspondence. 



i 









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"S«/*^ 



»''L<'a 



R.P. J.POULTRY BOOKS 



Cirrrr^^ WITH POtlfTRV Isabookofll2p«R9.9xUiacbe((a<lw.tlwteontal«««« 
0\J\,\^^aO Willi ruuUlKl bfliev* MORS and BKTTKlt t>r«ctlc»l. teltabl« la(onn«tio« 
^^^r- ^ _^^^^^^ on the sabject o< " Pea/lr> /or Pro/« " than an/ other book pubtUhed. Clvc(th<creai^o( c<UI» 

^^TTi^rnm %^^^^^H lished (act*. Written and compiled by the editor of the Rsu«<LS fOOLTav Joukmal, »ha hM 

lOQyjt^'? %^^^^H 8i*<° "■any years o( careful tludy to tbc poultry buatseu. PrlCA s1 OO- 

^"**tt«ls\^B ABTlFlCIAt INCUBATING AND ^^m\Am ^.?^^.:^T^^Jip^h^■ 

%S^ \^^^ n^^^H ^^ '" contributed to by the leaditfg authorities of this country. It has 88 pspes. each lit^ Inches, trith 
1 "^ ^^ tt^^^^ manv it lustrations* including a aomber of designs of modem brooder Iwdfes, laying bouses, and 

Incubator cellars. Complete instructions on the use and abuae of lacutMtors. DbIj^^ RA^k 1 
J> ^^i^^^tt^^M Bow to start right and go right in raising chickens by artificial mesas. • l^rlvO Ows 

*^^^W BARRED. WHITE and BUFF PLYMOUTH BOCKS r.V;'£;^!;!gy'ilHlg;.'Ri 

sj?0«. ^H <l<Sa<it color plates o( Barred, White and BaaPlymoutli Racks, ibown In their natoratcolora, repro- 

^"bsS/^I^j* ^I dueed from oil paintings made by the world'* i^eatett pouluy arlist. Franklaoc L. StwelU Amonc 

i^SSKy ^H Itie contributors are the following: A.C. Hairkin«,B. B. Thorapaon. Bradley Broa,, A-CSmitb.!. K. 

^=** ^^ Pelch, D.J. Lambert. U. R. Fishel, Robt. H. Essex, C. K. Latham, F. W. Richardsoa, Tbeo. Heires. 

F.W. Hitchcock, W.S. Russell, C. A. £mry,S. S.Noble and otber*. • . PHCA SOc 

THF WYANnnTTP<i SlUar. Calden, Whit*. Buff and Parfrltfg*. A new pabHcalfoo 

^ . m ^^^ »in< m«nt»v«iK,j trealingexlensi»ely upon this breed. The Irootitpiccc is • handtomc 

Ct k* ^,rll*v^A Wi^^^H reproduction from Mr. Scmll's oil ptinling o( ** White Wyaodotics to date." icpreaeatiBr the irin- 

\lea**^.«''^\B Vl^^^H "'"S cockerel and pullet at Boston, in January, ISW. We have h id made Mpcciatljr (ar tU* book 

fSrtT^. n l^^^^B (nil-page dra^Tillgs o< Silver, Colden.whit* and Bttfl Wyandotte*. Stgbly ■« « ^f\^ 

•mkV \if ^^H pages fully illustrated. » i^' \ \ ..«. *. t /. • '" - "'ICO OUO 

' •■^'— *^ ^^^ THP IPnHnRN^'AnVarlatU*. TbltpnbIlc«tIoa'w<tld«Hgbtfa^eier«oi that aridely bred 

«l«l>. I»i:.UUVHt^J and favorite fowl— the Leghorn*. NO bmder can a8ard to be without Ibe 

r V.^^^^^IE^gteJ^^H inforiiiation written by such judges as I. K. Pelcti.T./. Marsbajl, H S. 6abcack,f. H. Sbellabarger, 

' Wit»vTr"*!^^^^S« Theo. Hewes, D. T. Heimlich, C. A. Emry, Cbas. McCfaire, Etr* Coroell, W. S. Rusaell.P. B. aUaincr, 

'iLL 'CVo^^^^^B Wm.EIIety Bright and other*. Twelve (uU-pageiUu*mttoiM and many other*. Pf |C0 SOO 

> '^ ^#il PfifiQ ANn PfiA PARM^ I* nadc «p of eoBtriboUon* from experleoced and *«cee*>(ut 

*V,^ IM C'UUJftnW CUWrnaWJ breeder*. TJl give* their method* ol ho»i.irg, breeding, rearing 

\ ^^99^. #iH *"*^ feeding fowls with a view to Increasing egg pradoction. The lengthy chapter* oa Pedigree 

>._.{( ^»l /^H Breeding will be found invaluable to breeder* 01 exbibiUoo or tttilily (owl*. Aa w^.t rrr\ - 

*"^^ ^< f^^ BO-page book, lolly illustrated. •_ • ,.. • ^- •_ » ;^ • ,• • r'nCO OUO 

MIPE^ ANil fiPP<!;P Tell* how the most sneeeisrul breeder* of the day loaaage thtir enor- 
Ifuvn J CTMU VC.K.»Jg« n,o„5 flocks and derive handsome profits: gives detailed iutmctiotu 
(o** breeding, rearing- and feeding, and presents the best and most reliable information relacisg to 
details of management and profits on Ducks and Geeae. It U fully illuatrated DmI^^^ tR.t\^. 
with up-to-date cuuoi the big farm* and their stock. /,*'*** rTICO OWC 

liit^^^.,! ^X^^B TIIfiKPY<t Thalrear««ndMan*a«fn*iit. The most complete book wrlltea npoa (orkey caltare. B 

i V-^J^xJJJ. . TU^H am>n»a«J treats of every branch of the subject. Among the prominent breeder* who ba»« (pent time 

^^<iiltS&^^.<v^^^B and effort In preparing article* (or this book are Mrs. Mackey, Mr*. Jone*. Mr*. Uargiave. Mr*. Slogletoa, 

V^^^£i^\^H S. B. Johnston, J. P. Craogte. w. J. Bell, B. P. Utrey, B. P. Histop. W, A. Mooa. Ed niey, J. A. Letond and S. 

eJ?i^ f»'^\ ^M T. Tones. The colored reproduction of an oil painting by Sewell aided by numnoas B— |»j, |K/ln 

y'''^»')I>;ii3J^B ball- tone* makes this the very best turkey book published. ••••«• frlCO Oww 

^iS^_ I' ^POULTBY BOUSES AND FIXTURES -S:?fif,^'!f J^'^„p;g;:?^.f;^^^iA^^^.'g; 

""^i.^-r-'^^^^k rity lot, the village acre and the farm; also complete and coareueBt house* (or Ibe 0_|fkA 9 Ra 
I .fancier »nd plans for building extensive poultry (arms, •--•••• mC6 ^06 

I TnP RANTAM PnWT ThemostcompleteandfutlyinnstraledllaBtambetdcpiibUsbedtatbUcottB. 

I I HP Prtli I /tr* r V W l< ,,y Mr. T. p. McCrew, judge and breeder, spent many month* eollectiug 
•od writing the matter, and over sixty .copyrighted illustrations were made exptesaly lor this book. Hrety t%m\tim ROfi 
I>eTSon interested in Bantams as pet* or lor profit will want a copy. ...•.•••• r^riw w>^W 

BPItARTP DmilTDV DPMPnfPQ Consists of 64 pages, each 5x6 locfce*, points orit the eaose*. describe* the symp- 
BE,I<lftPl<0 rumjtnl ncriCWIIiij toms and gives tried reipedics for roup, colds, cholera, canker, indigestion, coo- 
stipation, dysentery, congestion of liver, gapes, chicken pox, black rot. crop-bound, scaly legs, bamble-loot, B-|^ j, 9Rm 
tod other diseases of fowls. ConUins (nil instructions on car* o( poultry to pttwntdiaeasea. - -. . . I~riev «««, 

These books are sold ON APPROVAL. H not satisfactory, they can be Immerttately retnmod In good order and the parchaM money 
will bJp^ptly retur^wl Thi alSve prices Include payment ot postage to any address lu United States or Canarta. Address aU ordoni to 

RELIABLE. POULTRY JOURNAL PUB. CO., QUINGY, ILLINOiS. 



